In vivo flavoprotein redox measurements of rabbit corneal normoxic-anoxic transitions.

Reversible normoxic-anoxic transitions from in vivo rabbit corneas were measured and displayed as mitochondrial flavoprotein fluorescence histograms. The flavoproteins were excited with a Helium-Cadmium laser at 441.6 nm, and the fluorescence was detected in the region of 550 nm. The laser excitation light was incident at the apex of the cornea perpendicular to the optic axis, and the emission was detected along the optic axis. Artifacts due to the motion of the globe and fluorescence from the iris and the lens were not significant. These studies demonstrate the feasibility of non-invasive in vivo monitoring of corneal anoxia-normoxia, and suggest its future applications to studies with contact lens and corneal wound healing.