Figure 1. Morphological properties of ultraviolet (UV)-irradiated corneas. Eyes were treated with AST eye drops before UV exposure (A: 1 mg/ml, B: 0.1 mg/ml, C: 0.01 mg/ml AST). Control subjects were not irradiated with UVB (D). R: Right eyes were given various concentrations of AST eye drops. L: Left eyes were given vehicle alone as controls. The mean values of corneal epithelial thickness are summarized (E). Epithelia were significantly thicker in right eyes treated with 1 and 0.1 mg/ml AST compared to the left eyes, which served as controls (p<0.01). Protective effects of AST were found to occur in a dose-dependent manner.