Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of topical aldose reductase inhibitor CT-112 (5 -[3-ethoxy-4-pentyloxyphenyl]2,4-thiazolidinedione) on corneal epitheli al barrier function in diabetic patients. Methods: This was a prospective, randomi sed, double masked placebo controlled study. 34 eyes of 34 diabetic patients wer e randomly assigned treatment with 0.25%eye drops of CT-112 (n=22) or a placeb o (n=12) four times a day for 8 weeks. Corneal fluorescein staining and corneal sensation were examined before treatment as well as 4 and 8 weeks after administ ration. Corneal epithelial permeability to fluorescence was measured with an ant erior fluorophotometer. Results: Average scores of superficial punctate keratopa thy and corneal sensitivity did not differ significantly between the two groups at any time. Whereas average fluorescein concentrations did not differ significa ntly for the CT-112 and placebo groups before treatment, they did differ signif icantly 4 and 8 weeks after treatment (4 weeks, p=0.0327; 8 weeks, p=0.0143). Co nclusion: The topical aldose reductase inhibitor, CT-112 improves the corneal e pithelial barrier function in diabetic patients.
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