Stromal reaction and repair after corneal alkali wound in the rabbit: a quantitative microradiographic study.

The corneal stromal reaction and repair were studied after alkali wound in the rabbit. The wound was followed for 6 months. The size and opacity of the wound were followed in the slit lamp and photographically. Morphology and dry mass or water content were studied using quantitative microradiography. The size of the wound opacity diminished throughout the observation period. The density of the opacity varied with the stromal water content. An increased water content as well as large variation in water content caused increased opacity. The corneal edema, determined already after 1 hr, was not detectable by 1 week using quantitative microradiography. Subsequently, an extensive edema developed, water accumulation being most marked in the posterior part of the cornea. After 8 weeks, an increase in interlamellar dry mass content could be determined as a sign of a stromal healing process. Stromal thickness and dry mass content had returned to normal values by 6 months.