THE CORNEA

Abstract

The present investigations on corneal hydration (turgescence and/or deturgescence) were carried out with two objectives in mind: first, to obtain data on the physical-chemical properties of the cornea and, secondly, to clarify further¹ the roles of the various structural components in maintaining corneal function. To accomplish these aims, it seemed best to determine the amount of turgescence of corneal pieces in different solutions and then to consider swelling of the whole cornea under a number of conditions. In the interests of simplicity the present paper will be confined to reporting the findings acquired from studying hydration of corneal pieces, while the results obtained from the use of whole corneas will be published in a following paper. It has long been known that gross corneal sections possess an enormous swelling capacity. Chevreuil² showed that 100 Gm. of cornea would take up 461 cc. of water and 370 cc. of