Effect of intraocular miotics on corneal endothelium.

We investigated the use of commercially available intraocular preparations of acetylcholine chloride and carbachol for their effects on the physiological function and anatomical appearance of the corneal endothelium. Cornea endothelial cells that were perfused for 15 minutes in the specular microscope with 1% acetylcholine demonstrated no alteration in physiology or ultrastructure. Cornea endothelial cells perfused for 15 minutes with 0.01% carbachol demonstrated alterations in physiology during the first hour; however, physiological function returned to normal during the remaining two hours of perfusion in modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate solution. Electron microscopy demonstrated no cellular alterations.