Structure alterations and the spectral law of light diffusion during corneal edema.

The quantity D of light scattered by a layer is proportional of the n th power of the wavelength. This has been checked with five rabbit corneas at different stages of hydration and the corresponding values of n have been calculated. It appears that, during the progress of edema, D and n remain connected through the linear relation:n=aD+b. The constants a and b are determined as well as the correlation coefficients. That physical link between n and D throw a light on the nature of ultra-structure alterations occuring in the edematous stroma.