Corneal deturgescence during organ culture.

A simple method is described to monitor rabbit and human corneal deturgescence while the tissue is suspended in tissue culture media. The composition of the media is such that the cornea slowly thickens at 4 degrees but exhibits the classic "temperature reversal" thinning phenomenon when incubated at 23 degrees-37 degrees. Each cornea is cultured in a closed eye bank corneal viewing chamber during swelling and deswelling phases of an experiment, minimizing direct handling of the tissue. Optimal conditions for observing corneal deturgescence are described. This protocol has several advantages over corneal perfusion techniques and could be further developed for routine use in eye banks as a functional test of donor suitability for keratoplasty.