The measurement of ox corneal swelling pressure by osmometry.

1. Ox corneal stromal swelling pressure (gel pressure) may be measured by osmometry: polyethylene glycol of nominal molecular mass 10,000 Da (PEG 10K) is a suitable non-penetrating solute. 2. Corneal hydrations equilibrate within 4 h of exposure to 154 mM-NaCl including various concentrations (2-8%) of PEG 10K, providing that the epithelium covers the anterior surface and Descemet's membrane covers the posterior surface. At equilibrium hydration, corneal gel pressure equals the external osmotic pressure contributed by PEG 10K. 3. The osmotic pressure of PEG 10K may be calibrated using Descemet's membrane as the semi-permeable membrane. 4. Corneal gel pressure decreases with increasing hydration. 5. The relationship may be adequately explained by the Donnan theory of corneal swelling with a fixed negative matrix charge of 39.5 +/- 0.8 mequiv l-1 at physiological hydration of 3.2 at this salt concentration (154 mM-NaCl).