Age-Related Differences in the Mouse Corneal Epithelial Transcriptome and Their Impact on Corneal Wound Healing.

Purpose: Aging is a risk factor for dry eye. We sought to identify changes in the aged mouse corneal epithelial transcriptome and determine how age affects corneal sensitivity, re-epithelialization, and barrier reformation after corneal debridement. Methods: Corneal epithelium of female C57BL/6J (B6) mice of different ages (2, 12, 18, and 24 months) was collected, RNA extracted, and bulk RNA sequencing performed. Cornea sensitivity was measured with an esthesiometer in 2- to 3-month-old, 12- to 13-month-old, 18- to 19-month-old, and 22- to 25-month-old female and male mice. The 2-month-old and 18-month-old female and male mice underwent unilateral corneal debridement using a blunt blade. Wound size and fluorescein staining were visualized and photographed at different time points, and a re-epithelialization rate curve was calculated. Results: There were 157 differentially expressed genes in aged mice compared with young mice. Several pathways downregulated with age control cell migration, proteoglycan synthesis, and collagen trimerization, assembly, biosynthesis, and degradation. Male mice had decreased corneal sensitivity compared with female mice at 12 and 24 months of age. Aged mice, irrespective of sex, had delayed corneal re-epithelialization in the first 48 hours and worse corneal fluorescein staining intensity at day 14 than young mice. Conclusions: Aged corneal epithelium has an altered transcriptome. Aged mice regardless of sex heal more slowly and displayed more signs of corneal epithelial defects after wounding than young mice. These results indicate that aging significantly alters the corneal epithelium and its ability to coordinate healing.

Aquaporins in the Cornea.

The cornea is an avascular, transparent tissue that allows light to enter the visual system. Accurate vision requires proper maintenance of the cornea's integrity and structure. Due to its exposure to the external environment, the cornea is prone to injury and must undergo proper wound healing to restore vision. Aquaporins (AQPs) are a family of water channels important for passive water transport and, in some family members, the transport of other small molecules; AQPs are expressed in all layers of the cornea. Although their functions as water channels are well established, the direct function of AQPs in the cornea is still being determined and is the focus of this review. AQPs, primarily AQP1, AQP3, and AQP5, have been found to play an important role in maintaining water homeostasis, the corneal structure in relation to proper hydration, and stress responses, as well as wound healing in all layers of the cornea. Due to their many functions in the cornea, the identification of drug targets that modulate the expression of AQPs in the cornea could be beneficial to promote corneal wound healing and restore proper function of this tissue crucial for vision.

Insulin eye drops improve corneal wound healing in STZ-induced diabetic mice by regulating corneal inflammation and neuropeptide release.

INTRODUCTION: In recent years, insulin eye drops have attracted increasing attention from researchers and ophthalmologists. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and possible mechanism of action of insulin eye drops in diabetic mice with corneal wounds. METHODS: A type 1 diabetes model was induced, and a corneal epithelial injury model of 2.5 mm was established. We used corneal fluorescein staining, hematoxylin-eosin (H-E) staining and the Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer to examine the process of wound healing. Subsequently, the expression levels of Ki-67, IL-1ß, ß3-tubulin and neuropeptides, including substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), were examined at 72 h after corneal injury. RESULTS: Fluorescein staining demonstrated an acceleration of the recovery of corneal epithelial injury in diabetic mice compared with the saline treatment, which was further evidenced by the overexpression of Ki-67. Moreover, 72 h of insulin application attenuated the expression of inflammatory cytokines and neutrophil infiltration. Remarkably, the results demonstrated that topical insulin treatment enhanced the density of corneal epithelial nerves, as well as neuropeptide SP and CGRP release, in the healing cornea via immunofluorescence staining. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that insulin eye drops may accelerate corneal wound healing and decrease inflammatory responses in diabetic mice by promoting nerve regeneration and increasing levels of neuropeptides SP and CGRP.

Alkali injury-induced pathological lymphangiogenesis in the iris facilitates the infiltration of T cells and ocular inflammation.

Inflammatory lymphangiogenesis is intimately linked to immune regulation and tissue homeostasis. However, current evidence has suggested that classic lymphatic vessels are physiologically absent in intraocular structures. Here, we show that neolymphatic vessels were induced in the iris after corneal alkali injury (CAI) in a VEGFR3-dependent manner. Cre-loxP-based lineage tracing revealed that these lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) originate from existing Prox1+ lymphatic vessels. Notably, the ablation of iridial lymphangiogenesis via conditional deletion of VEGFR3 alleviated the ocular inflammatory response and pathological T cell infiltration. Our findings demonstrate that iridial neolymphatics actively participate in pathological immune responses following injury and suggest intraocular lymphangiogenesis as a valuable therapeutic target for the treatment of ocular inflammation.

Chlorine-Induced Toxicity on Murine Cornea: Exploring the Potential Therapeutic Role of Antioxidants.

Chlorine (Cl2) exposure poses a significant risk to ocular health, with the cornea being particularly susceptible to its corrosive effects. Antioxidants, known for their ability to neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS) and alleviate oxidative stress, were explored as potential therapeutic agents to counteract chlorine-induced damage. In vitro experiments using human corneal epithelial cells showed decreased cell viability by chlorine-induced ROS production, which was reversed by antioxidant incubation. The mitochondrial membrane potential decreased due to both low and high doses of Cl2 exposure; however, it was recovered through antioxidants. The wound scratch assay showed that antioxidants mitigated impaired wound healing after Cl2 exposure. In vivo and ex vivo, after Cl2 exposure, increased corneal fluorescein staining indicates damaged corneal epithelial and stromal layers of mice cornea. Likewise, Cl2 exposure in human ex vivo corneas led to corneal injury characterized by epithelial fluorescein staining and epithelial erosion. However, antioxidants protected Cl2-induced damage. These results highlight the effects of Cl2 on corneal cells using in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo models while also underscoring the potential of antioxidants, such as vitamin A, vitamin C, resveratrol, and melatonin, as protective agents against acute chlorine toxicity-induced corneal injury. Further investigation is needed to confirm the antioxidants' capacity to alleviate oxidative stress and enhance the corneal healing process.

Consumption of Limosilactobacillus fermentum Inhibits Corneal Damage and Inflammation in Dry Eye Disease Mouse Model through Regulating the Gut Microbiome.

The present study investigated the effect of orally administered Limosilactobacillus fermentum HY7302 (HY7302) on the relationship between ocular tissue and the microbiome in a corneal injury dry eye mouse model. Specifically, 0.1% benzalkonium chloride (BAC) was applied to the ocular surface for 14 days to induce corneal injury in male Balb/c mice. During the BAC treatment period, HY7302 (1 × 108 CFU/kg/day or 1 × 109 CFU/kg/day) or an omega-3 positive control (400 mg/kg/day) were administered orally (n = eight/group). To examine the signaling pathways affected by the HY7302 treatment, the in vitro effects of HY7302 on the tight junctions and the inflammatory response were investigated in the mouse colon epithelial cell line, CMT-93. BAC exposure decreased tear production, induced ocular inflammation and corneal epithelial detachment, and altered the gut microbiota. However, oral administration of HY7302 restored tear secretion and decreased corneal epithelial detachment in BAC-treated corneal injury mice. Further, HY7302 alleviated corneal inflammation via modulation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression and affeted alterations in gut microbiota composition. These findings suggest that the gut-eye axis interaction between gut microbiota and corneal tissue affects disease severity in corneal injury, and that the alteration of the microbiota by HY7302 could improve eye health by regulating the inflammatory response.

Advancing ocular safety research: A comprehensive examination of benzocaine acute exposure without animal testing.

Benzocaine is a widely employed local anaesthetic; however, there is a notable dearth of preclinical and clinical evidence regarding its safety in ophthalmological products. To address this, a comprehensive strategy incorporating in silico and in vitro methodologies was proposed for assessing benzocaine's ocular toxicity without animal testing. To collect the in silico evidence, the QSAR Toolbox (v4.5) was used. A single exposure to two benzocaine concentrations (2% and 20%) was evaluated by in vitro methods. Hen's Egg Chorioallantoic Membrane Test (HET-CAM) was performed to evaluate the effects on the conjunctiva. To study corneal integrity, Short Time Exposure test (STE) and Bovine Corneal Opacity and Permeability (BCOP) assay, followed by histopathological analysis, were carried out. Results from both in silico and in vitro methodologies categorize benzocaine as non-irritating. The histopathological analysis further affirms the safety of using benzocaine in eye drops, as no alterations were observed in evaluated corneal strata. This research proposes a useful combined strategy to provide evidence on the safety of local anaesthetics and particularly show that 2% and 20% benzocaine solutions do not induce eye irritation or corneal damage, supporting the potential use of benzocaine in the development of ophthalmic anesthetic products.

A novel intraocular pressure predicting method based on hyperelastic mechanical model of cornea.

Measuring intraocular pressure (IOP) is crucial and remains challenging in diagnosing glaucoma, as it is associated with cornea deformation during inflation. In this study, a three-dimensional analytical model based on hyperelastic constitutive relationship to predict correlation between cornea vertex displacement and the IOP is proposed. The analytical model is validated by rigorous experiments. Rabbit corneas were selected for this study and their mechanical properties were obtained using uniaxial tensile tests. To mimic the environment in which the cornea exists, an artificial anterior chamber equipped with water-injection pipelines was constructed to study the relationship between the corneal vertex displacement with IOP value in practical situation. The experimental results of rabbits corneas prove that the IOP can be deduced based on the measured corneal vertex displacement by the analytical model. Furthermore, subtle difference occurs when comparing the calculated human IOPs with those measured by medical equipment, demonstrating that the proposed method is suitable for monitoring the IOP of human. This novel IOP predicting method provides new inspiration for the design of eyepieces, as well as the preoperative preparation for laser surgery and evaluation of corneal damage.

Topical application of calcitonin gene-related peptide as a regenerative, antifibrotic, and immunomodulatory therapy for corneal injury.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a multifunctional neuropeptide abundantly expressed by corneal nerves. Using a murine model of corneal mechanical injury, we found CGRP levels in the cornea significantly reduced after injury. Topical application of CGRP as an eye drop accelerates corneal epithelial wound closure, reduces corneal opacification, and prevents corneal edema after injury in vivo. CGRP promotes corneal epithelial cell migration, proliferation, and the secretion of laminin. It reduces TGF-ß1 signaling and prevents TGF-ß1-mediated stromal fibroblast activation and tissue fibrosis. CGRP preserves corneal endothelial cell density, morphology, and pump function, thus reducing corneal edema. Lastly, CGRP reduces neutrophil infiltration, macrophage maturation, and the production of inflammatory cytokines in the cornea. Taken together, our results show that corneal nerve-derived CGRP plays a cytoprotective, pro-regenerative, anti-fibrotic, and anti-inflammatory role in corneal wound healing. In addition, our results highlight the critical role of sensory nerves in ocular surface homeostasis and injury repair.

Lack of Elevated Expression of TGFß3 Contributes to the Delay of Epithelial Wound Healing in Diabetic Corneas.

Purpose: To investigate the mechanisms underlying the differential roles of TGFß1 and TGFß3 in accelerating corneal epithelial wound healing (CEWH) in diabetic (DM) corneas, with normoglycemia (NL) corneas as the control. Methods: Two types of diabetic mice, human corneal organ cultures, mouse corneal epithelial progenitor cell lines, and bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) were employed to assess the effects of TGFß1 and TGFß3 on CEWH, utilizing quantitative PCR, western blotting, ELISA, and whole-mount confocal microscopy. Results: Epithelial debridement led to an increased expression of TGFß1 and TGFß3 in cultured human NL corneas, but only TGFß1 in DM corneas. TGFß1 and TGFß3 inhibition was significantly impeded, but exogenous TGFß1 and, more potently, TGFß3 promoted CEWH in cultured TKE2 cells and in NL and DM C57BL6 mouse corneas. Wounding induced similar levels of p-SMAD2/SMAD3 in NL and DM corneas but weaker ERK1/2, Akt, and EGFR phosphorylation in DM corneas compared to NL corneas. Whereas TGFß1 augmented SMAD2/SMAD3 phosphorylation, TGFß3 preferentially activated ERK, PI3K, and EGFR in healing DM corneas. Furthermore, TGFß1 and TGFß3 differentially regulated the expression of S100a9, PAI-1, uPA/tPA, and CCL3 in healing NL and DM corneas. Finally, TGFß1 induced the expression of M1 macrophage markers iNOS, CD86, and CTGF, whereas TGFß3 promoted the expression of M2 markers CD206 and NGF in BMDMs from db/db or db/+ mice. Conclusions: Hyperglycemia disrupts the balanced expression of TGFß3/TGFß1, resulting in delayed CEWH, including impaired sensory nerve regeneration in the cornea. Supplementing TGFß3 in DM wounds may hold therapeutic potential for accelerating delayed wound healing in diabetic patients.

Evaluating the accuracy of the Ophthalmologist Robot for multiple blindness-causing eye diseases: a multicentre, prospective study protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Early eye screening and treatment can reduce the incidence of blindness by detecting and addressing eye diseases at an early stage. The Ophthalmologist Robot is an automated device that can simultaneously capture ocular surface and fundus images without the need for ophthalmologists, making it highly suitable for primary application. However, the accuracy of the device's screening capabilities requires further validation. This study aims to evaluate and compare the screening accuracies of ophthalmologists and deep learning models using images captured by the Ophthalmologist Robot, in order to identify a screening method that is both highly accurate and cost-effective. Our findings may provide valuable insights into the potential applications of remote eye screening. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a multicentre, prospective study that will recruit approximately 1578 participants from 3 hospitals. All participants will undergo ocular surface and fundus images taken by the Ophthalmologist Robot. Additionally, 695 participants will have their ocular surface imaged with a slit lamp. Relevant information from outpatient medical records will be collected. The primary objective is to evaluate the accuracy of ophthalmologists' screening for multiple blindness-causing eye diseases using device images through receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The targeted diseases include keratitis, corneal scar, cataract, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, glaucomatous optic neuropathy and pathological myopia. The secondary objective is to assess the accuracy of deep learning models in disease screening. Furthermore, the study aims to compare the consistency between the Ophthalmologist Robot and the slit lamp in screening for keratitis and corneal scar using the Kappa test. Additionally, the cost-effectiveness of three eye screening methods, based on non-telemedicine screening, ophthalmologist-telemedicine screening and artificial intelligence-telemedicine screening, will be assessed by constructing Markov models. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study has obtained approval from the ethics committee of the Ophthalmology and Optometry Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University (reference: 2023-026 K-21-01). This work will be disseminated by peer-review publications, abstract presentations at national and international conferences and data sharing with other researchers. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR2300070082.

NEAT1 Deficiency Promotes Corneal Epithelial Wound Healing by Activating cAMP Signaling Pathway.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the role of the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) NEAT1 in corneal epithelial wound healing in mice. Methods: The central corneal epithelium of wild-type (WT), MALAT1 knockout (M-KO), NEAT1 knockout (N-KO), and NEAT1 knockdown (N-KD) mice was scraped to evaluate corneal epithelial and nerve regeneration rates. RNA sequencing of the corneal epithelium from WT and N-KO mice was performed 24 hours after debridement to determine the role of NEAT1. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) and ELISA were used to confirm the bioinformatic analysis. The effects of the cAMP signaling pathway were evaluated in N-KO and N-KD mice using SQ22536, an adenylate cyclase inhibitor. Results: Central corneal epithelial debridement in N-KO mice significantly promoted epithelial and nerve regeneration rates while suppressing inflammatory cell infiltration. Furthermore, the expression of Atp1a2, Ppp1r1b, Calm4, and Cngb1, which are key components of the cAMP signaling pathway, was upregulated in N-KO mice, indicative of its activation. Furthermore, the cAMP pathway inhibitor SQ22536 reversed the accelerated corneal epithelial wound healing in both N-KO and N-KD mice. Conclusions: NEAT1 deficiency contributes to epithelial repair during corneal wound healing by activating the cAMP signaling pathway, thereby highlighting a potential therapeutic strategy for corneal epithelial diseases.

Use of Topical Anesthetics in the Management of Patients With Simple Corneal Abrasions: Consensus Guidelines From the American College of Emergency Physicians.

The management of corneal abrasions has largely excluded dispensing topical local anesthetics for home use due to concern for corneal toxicity. We have reviewed and critically appraised the available literature evidence regarding the use of topical anesthetics in patients with simple corneal abrasions. Using sequential Delphi review, we have developed these clinical guidelines. Herein are evidentiary summaries and consensus recommendations for 8 specific relevant questions. Our key observation is that for only simple corneal abrasions, as diagnosed and treated in accordance with the full protocol described herein, it appears safe to prescribe or otherwise provide a commercial topical anesthetic (ie, proparacaine, tetracaine, oxybuprocaine) for use up to every 30 minutes as needed during the first 24 hours after presentation, as long as no more than 1.5 to 2 mL total (an expected 24-hour supply) is dispensed and any remainder is discarded after 24 hours. Importantly, although published findings suggest absent harm for short courses, more rigorous studies with a greater cumulative sample size and ophthalmologic follow-up are needed.

Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid-1 Channels Facilitate Axonal Degeneration of Corneal Sensory Nerves in Dry Eye.

Corneal nerve impairment contributes significantly to dry eye disease (DED) symptoms and is thought to be secondary to corneal epithelial damage. Transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV1) channels abound in corneal nerve fibers and respond to inflammation-derived ligands, which increase in DED. TRPV1 overactivation promotes axonal degeneration in vitro, but whether it participates in DED-associated corneal nerve dysfunction is unknown. To explore this, DED was surgically induced in wild-type and TRPV1-knockout mice, which developed comparable corneal epithelial damage and reduced tear secretion. However, corneal mechanosensitivity decreased progressively only in wild-type DED mice. Sensitivity to capsaicin (TRPV1 agonist) increased in wild-type DED mice, and consistently, only this strain displayed DED-induced pain signs. Wild-type DED mice exhibited nerve degeneration throughout the corneal epithelium, whereas TRPV1-knockout DED mice only developed a reduction in the most superficial nerve endings that failed to propagate to the deeper subbasal corneal nerves. Pharmacologic TRPV1 blockade reproduced these findings in wild-type DED mice, whereas CD4+ T cells from both strains were equally pathogenic when transferred, ruling out a T-cell-mediated effect of TRPV1 deficiency. These data show that ocular desiccation triggers superficial corneal nerve damage in DED, but proximal propagation of axonal degeneration requires TRPV1 expression. Local inflammation sensitized TRPV1 channels, which increased ocular pain. Thus, ocular TRPV1 overactivation drives DED-associated corneal nerve impairment.

Dysfunctional latent transforming growth factor ß activation after corneal injury in a classical Ehlers-Danlos model.

Patients with classical Ehlers Danlos syndrome (cEDS) suffer impaired wound healing and from scars formed after injuries that are atrophic and difficult to close surgically. Haploinsufficiency in COL5A1 creates systemic morphological and functional alterations in the entire body. We investigated mechanisms that impair wound healing from corneal lacerations (full thickness injuries) in a mouse model of cEDS (Col5a1+/-). We found that collagen V reexpression in this model is upregulated during corneal tissue repair and that wound healing is delayed, impaired, and results in large atrophic corneal scars. We noted that in a matrix with a 50 % content of collagen V, activation of latent Transforming Growth Factor (TGF) ß is dysregulated. Corneal myofibroblasts with a haploinsufficiency of collagen V failed to mechanically activate latent TGF ß. Second harmonic imaging microscopy showed a disorganized, undulated, and denser collagen matrix in our Col5a1+/- model that suggested alterations in the extracellular matrix structure and function. We hypothesize that a regenerated collagen matrix with only 50 % content of collagen V is not resistant enough mechanically to allow adequate activation of latent TGF ß by fibroblasts and myofibroblasts.

[Corneal wound healing-Pharmacological treatment]. / Wundheilung der Kornea ­ Pharmakologische Therapie.

Physiological wound healing of the cornea is a complex process and involves numerous multifactorial tissue processes. A proper wound healing, especially without the formation of light-scattering scars, is essential to preserve the integrity and function of the cornea. Misdirected wound healing is of vast clinical relevance as it can lead to corneal fibrosis and the loss of optical transparency with subsequent reduction of visual acuity, up to blindness. In addition to the understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms, the knowledge of therapeutic concepts and options for treating corneal wound healing disorders and fibrosis is essential to counteract a permanent damage of the cornea as early as possible. Nowadays, various pharmacological and surgical options are available for treatment. The decision, appropriate selection and indication for the optimal treatment depend primarily on the genesis and clinical appearance of the corneal wound, fibrosis or scar. The treatment of wound healing disorders ranges from the use of topical therapy and supportive measures up to tissue replacement procedures. As long as the mechanical stability of the cornea is intact and wound healing processes are still ongoing, a pharmacological modulation is reasonable, which is discussed in this article.

Dynamic changes of endothelial and stromal cilia are required for the maintenance of corneal homeostasis.

Primary cilia are distributed extensively within the corneal epithelium and endothelium. However, the presence of cilia in the corneal stroma and the dynamic changes and roles of endothelial and stromal cilia in corneal homeostasis remain largely unknown. Here, we present compelling evidence for the presence of primary cilia in the corneal stroma, both in vivo and in vitro. We also demonstrate dynamic changes of both endothelial and stromal cilia during corneal development. In addition, our data show that cryoinjury triggers dramatic cilium formation in the corneal endothelium and stroma. Furthermore, depletion of cilia in mutant mice lacking intraflagellar transport protein 88 compromises the corneal endothelial capacity to establish the effective tissue barrier, leading to an upregulation of α-smooth muscle actin within the corneal stroma in response to cryoinjury. These observations underscore the essential involvement of corneal endothelial and stromal cilia in maintaining corneal homeostasis and provide an innovative strategy for the treatment of corneal injuries and diseases.

The application of a 4D-printed chitosan-based stem cell carrier for the repair of corneal alkali burns.

BACKGROUND: Corneal alkali burns can lead to ulceration, perforation, and even corneal blindness due to epithelial defects and extensive cell necrosis, resulting in poor healing outcomes. Previous studies have found that chitosan-based in situ hydrogel loaded with limbal epithelium stem cells (LESCs) has a certain reparative effect on corneal alkali burns. However, the inconsistent pore sizes of the carriers and low cell loading rates have resulted in suboptimal repair outcomes. In this study, 4D bioprinting technology was used to prepare a chitosan-based thermosensitive gel carrier (4D-CTH) with uniform pore size and adjustable shape to improve the transfer capacity of LESCs. METHODS: Prepare solutions of chitosan acetate, carboxymethyl chitosan, and ß-glycerophosphate sodium at specific concentrations, and mix them in certain proportions to create a pore-size uniform scaffold using 4D bioprinting technology. Extract and culture rat LESCs (rLESCs) in vitro, perform immunofluorescence experiments to observe the positivity rate of deltaNp63 cells for cell identification. Conduct a series of experiments to validate the cell compatibility of 4D-CTH, including CCK-8 assay to assess cell toxicity, scratch assay to evaluate the effect of 4D-CTH on rLESCs migration, and Calcein-AM/PI cell staining experiment to examine the impact of 4D-CTH on rLESCs proliferation and morphology. Establish a severe alkali burn model in rat corneas, transplant rLESCs onto the injured cornea using 4D-CTH, periodically observe corneal opacity and neovascularization using a slit lamp, and evaluate epithelial healing by fluorescein sodium staining. Assess the therapeutic effect 4D-CTH-loaded rLESCs on corneal alkali burn through histological evaluation of corneal tissue paraffin sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin, as well as immunofluorescence staining of frozen sections. RESULTS: Using the 4D-CTH, rLESCs were transferred to the alkali burn wounds of rats. Compared with the traditional treatment group (chitosan in situ hydrogel encapsulating rLESCs), the 4D-CTH-rLESC group had significantly higher repair efficiency of corneal injury, such as lower corneal opacity score (1.2 ± 0.4472 vs 0.4 ± 0.5477, p < 0.05) and neovascularization score (5.5 ± 1.118 vs 2.6 ± 0.9618, p < 0.01), and significantly higher corneal epithelial wound healing rate (72.09 ± 3.568% vs 86.60 ± 5.004%, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: In summary, the corneas of the 4D-CTH-rLESC treatment group were similar to the normal corneas and had a complete corneal structure. These findings suggested that LESCs encapsulated by 4D-CTH significantly accelerated corneal wound healing after alkali burn and can be considered as a rapid and effective method for treating epithelial defects.