Light penetration of normal and photokeratitis induced rabbit cornea.

The passage of light through photokeratitic and normal corneas was investigated using a grating monochromator. The energy output was measured at each selected central wavelength from 280 to 700 nm. The absorption by epithelial and stromal suspensions was continuously registered over the total light spectrum in a recording spectrophotometer. The penetrating quantity of the physiologically effective middle wave ultraviolet (UVB) rays varies according to wavelengths from about 11% at 290 nm up to 50% at 320 nm. Photokeratitis did not alter the transmission characteristics at wavelengths below 310 nm. At longer wavelengths transmission was significantly decreased in photokeratitic corneas compared to normal. No difference was found between the light absorption of the supernatants of photokeratitic and normal corneas.