The wound repair process is intricately linked to a complex inflammatory response that must be properly regulated to ensure healing and optimal visual outcome. Infiltration of inflammatory cells into injured corneal tissue is a hallmark of wound repair, and the association of polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocyte infiltration with sterile corneal ulceration is well recognized. Retardation of epithelial recovery by persistent inflammation, release of enzymatic products from degranulating PMN, and stimulation of mononuclear leukocytes by cytokines all contribute to poor re-epithelialization.