Wave‐length dependencies of light scattering in normal and cold swollen rabbit corneas and their structural implications*

Abstract

1. The studies described herein involve the use of light scattering measurements to characterize the ultrastructural arrangement of the constituent collagen fibrils in rabbit corneal stromas. 2. Theoretical light scattering techniques for calculating the scattering to be expected from the structures revealed by electron micrographs are discussed, and comparison with the experimental light scattering tests the validity of these structures. 3. The wave‐length dependence of light transmission and of angular light scattering from normal corneas is in agreement with the short range ordering of collagen fibrils depicted in electron micrographs. 4. The transmission measurements on oedematous rabbit corneas indicate that transmission decreases linearly with the ratio of thickness to normal thickness. 5. The wave‐length dependence of transmission through cold swollen corneas indicates that the increased scattering is caused by large inhomogeneities in the ultrastructure. Electron micrographs do, indeed, reveal the presence of such inhomogeneities in the form of large regions completely devoid of fibrils.