Lactate levels in the rabbit cornea and aqueous humor subsequent to non-gas permeable contact lens wear.

The validity of using the aqueous humor lactate concentration as an indicator of corneal lactate production was tested. For this purpose, ten rabbits wore non-gas permeable contact lenses on one eye for 12 hours. Aqueous humor and corneal extracts were assayed for lactate by means of an enzymatic technique. The contact lens wear caused a limited increment in the corneal lactate concentration, but no change was recorded in the aqueous humor. We therefore conclude that the corneal lactate production has a negligible effect on the lactate concentration in aqueous humor. However, significant individual variations in lactate levels were recorded in the present study, as in earlier ones. Insufficient specificity in the currently used techniques for lactic acid concentration determination may in part explain this.