Abstract
A new method was developed for the analysis of fluorescein exchange between the aqueous humor and cornea which enables calculation of the permeability coefficient of the corneal endothelium and the steady-state aqueous-cornea distribution ratio from one experiment. After intravenous fluorescein injection, aqueous and corneal fluorescence was measured at intervals, using an objective fluorophotometer. Application of the method to normal human and rabbit gave the following average values: the permeability coefficient, 3.0 ± 0.50 x 10-6 cm. sec.-1 in the human and 5.1 ± 0.8 x 10-6 cm. sec.-1 in the rabbit, and the distribution ratio, 0.64 ± 0.10 in the human and 0.61 ± 0.12 in the rabbit.