Dextran 40-containing infusion fluids and corneal swelling: a specular microscopic study.

We studied the effect of dextran 40 on corneal swelling with a specular microscope. The corneas were stressed by the addition of 10(-5)M ouabain to the infusion fluids for various time intervals. Dextran 40 inhibited swelling of functionally impaired corneas. However, when the dextran 40 was removed from the solution, the corneas swelled rapidly to reach the level of those incubated in ouabain without dextran 40. When the corneas were stressed in ouabain for a short period, dextran 40 had a protective effect that lasted even after its removal from the solution.