Insulin eye drops treat chemical eye injuries

A study revealed insulin drops were effective at treating refractory persistent epithelial defects caused by chemical eye injury. 

Research conducted by the Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, and published in the National Library of Medicine, tested eleven eyes of 10 patients with insulin eye drops between March 2020 and September 2021.  

Insulin drops were used four times a day, and a full slit-lamp examination and serial anterior segment photography was given every two weeks. 

Results found that nine out of 11 eyes (82%) responded successfully to the insulin drops, fully healing within a mean time of 62.3 + 34.6 days.  

While the study highlighted the successful closure of wounds in chemical eye injuries, larger controlled studies are required to further evaluate this novel therapy.