[Experimental Research on the O2 supply of the eye author's transl].

To investigate the O2 supply conditions of the corneal endothelium and the lens by the aqueous hymor, O2 solubility coefficients of aqueous humor as well as in the lens had to be determined. The current assumption that the vitreous body is a possible O2 pool had to be examined. The following conclusions are drawn from the measured values of Bunsel O2 solubility coefficients (ml O2ml atm) of bovine aqueous humor, lens homogenates, vitreous bodys as well as of solutions of hyaluronic acid at temperatures from 10 to 40 degrees C: 1. The physiological rate of oxygen transport by the aqueous suffices to supply the corneal endothelium and the lens with oxygen, the temperature gradients within the anterior chamber favour the O2 supply of the corneal endothelium compared to other ocular tissues. 2. The O2 content of the aqueous can maintain O2 consumption of corneal endothelium for about 20 min theoretically or for about 5 min the lens ones. 3. The vitreous body can act as a possibel O2 pool only with regard to the O2 supply of the lens. In this case the pool can maintain O2 consumption of the shole lens for about 20 min. 4. During physiological growth of the lens the central part expands, which is characterized by an O2 concentration near zero. Therefore, the O2 supply of the lens is maintained for only less than one minute by the content of the lens itself.