An Experimental Study of the Corneal Epithelial Damage by Electric Welding Light on the Rabbit Cornea

ABSTRACT

The cellular alteration following the electric welding light on the rabbit corneal epithelial cells were studied in several conditions wearing various corneal contact lenses on the corneal surface exposed to the light for 5 minutes at 50 cm in each. The enucleated rabbit eyes 5 hours following the application of electric welding light were histopathologically investigated on the cellular structures of the cornea. The result were as follows 1. The cellular alterations in a group of soft contact lens wearing consisted of multiple vacuole enlargement, separation of interdigitation and Desmosome, intracellular edema, and loss of organelles in superficial and wing cells layer. Loss of microvilli of the corneal superficial cells were observed. 2. Loss of cytoplasmic microorganelles and microvilli intercellular edema in superficial cell layer, and slight vacuoles enlargement in wing cells layer were demonstrated in a group of the direct light exposure group without contact lenses. 3. Loss of microvilli and intercellular edema with separation of interdigitation in superficial cell layer but no specific changes in wing cells layer were exhibited in a group of hard contact lens wearing. 4. The most destructive features of the corneal epithelial cells were observed in a group of soft contact lens wearing, and it was suggested that the doubtful effects of protection on the corneal superficial tissue in the case of soft contact lens wearing were noteworthy.