Incipient atrophy of cornea. Experimental study.

The essence of the process in which the corneal tissue disappears in atrophy of the eye has not yet been studied. The authors of this investigation studied the changes in cornea as they developed after a gross perforating injury to the eye in rabbit. They found that the diameter of the cornea had grown smaller by 2 mm and its radius by 0.5 mm. The tensile strength of the cornea had decreased and hydration increased. Histologically there were but little changes and histochemically a decreased amount of acid mucopolysaccharides was ascertained in the corneal stroma. Incorporation of radioactive sulphate (Na2-35SO4) in vivo disclosed decreased biosynthesis of glycosaminoglycans. Clinically, even though the eye ball atrophied, complete atrophy with flattening and complete diminution, as in the human eye, never developed. The question arises whether the six-months period was sufficient for rabbit cornea to develop clinically similar atrophy as in human cornea or whether the clinical features are principally different in the two species. Foci of ossification, as found in atrophic eye balls, which are known to develop after a long time, would be evidence of the second alternative.