Increases in opacity and thickness induced by surfactants and other chemicals in the bovine isolated cornea.

Changes in the opacity and thickness of the bovine isolated cornea in response to incubation with surfactants and other chemicals have been monitored over a period of 4.5 h. Although there was some correlation between opacity and thickness for the anionic and non-ionic surfactants and for some of the chemicals, there was no correlation for cationic surfactants. It is suggested that the measurement of opacity in the isolated cornea gives a more reliable indication of likely in vivo eye irritancy than does the measurement of corneal thickness.