The diffusion of fluorescein in the stroma of rabbit cornea.

The diffusion rate and the distribution ratio of fluorescein in the stroma was studied in rabbit cornea. A strip of corneal stroma was mounted in a chamber and fluorescein in a phosphate buffer solution was circulated across the end of the strip for 24 hr. The change in fluorescence intensity was measured along the strip and the diffusion coefficient was calculated using Fick's diffusion equation. The mean coefficient of diffusion was 1.21 +/- 0.24 (+/- S.D.) X 10(-6) cm2/sec at 19 degrees C. The ratio of fluorescence between the stroma and the solution was 1.34 to 1.33 for the concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 10 g/ml.