Aerobic responses of the cornea to alkali measured in vivo.

With the use of a micropolarographic system, the effects of a series of unbuffered sodium hydroxide concentrations on oxygen uptake by the corneal epithelium of rabbit were measured in vivo. Based on an exposure model of 10 sec. followed by a saline rinse, concentrations of greater than 0.10 N were found to cause an abrupt and severe decline in oxygen uptake, with oxygen flux responses associated with 0.13 N and greater being indistinguishable 10 min later from those of a cornea completely denuded of epithelium. Initial flux variations, characteristic of exposure responses to concentrations of 0.10 N or less, gradually diminished, however, stabilizing within 1 hr to levels not significantly different (P less than 0.01) from pre-exposure fluxes or those of saline controls.