Regeneration of corneal epithelial basement membrane following thermal cauterization.

Thermal cauterization of the corneas of nine rhesus monkeys was performed by multiple thermokeratophore applications at temperatures of 90 degrees or 120 degrees C. Significant clinical observations included the resteepening of corneal curvature, delayed epithelial healing, stromal haze or scarring, and peripheral neovascularization. Reestablishment of tight adhesion of the regenerated epithelium to Bowman's layer required approximately 6 weeks. By transmission and scanning electron microscopy, the original basement membrane seemed relatively intact immediately following cauterization but disappeared within 1 week. The regeneration of new basement membrane complexes began at 1 week with the appearance of short discontinuous segments of basement material with hemidesmosomes and similarly required approximately 6 weeks for complete restoration.