Recovery of the corneal stroma associated with rapid reepithelialization induced by the fibronectin-derived peptide PHSRN in 2 cases of corneal perforation due to a persistent epithelial defect

Purpose: To report 2 cases of corneal perforation associated with a persistent epithelial defect (PED), which were treated with eye drops containing the fibronectin-derived peptide PHSRN (Pro-His- Ser-Arg-Asn). Methods: A 67-year-old man and a 58-year-old man presented with corneal perforation associated with a PED caused by lagophthalmos. PHSRN eye drops were administered 4 times a day to both patients. Results: Both patients experienced healing of the epithelial defect and closure of corneal perforation within 3 or 4 days after the onset of PHSRN treatment. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography also revealed recovery of corneal stromal thickness at the lesion site. Conclusions: PHSRN eye drops were effective for the treatment of corneal perforation due to the PED, with rapid reepithelialization being followed by full restoration of stromal thickness.