CORNEA AND ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION

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Abstract
The absorption of UV radiation in the cornea of rabbit, cat, guinea pig and rat was studied. About 80% of incident radiation is absorbed at the 290 nm wavelength limit in rabbit and cat. The absorption is considerably lower in guinea pig and rat. In a model based on conditions in the rabbit cornea epithelium, the ascorbic acid in these cells was roughly responsible for UV ray absorption of the same order as proteins and nucleic acids in the 250-290 nm spectral range. For radiation below 290 nm wavelength the ascorbic acid apparently is also a potential target substance which may mediate photophthalmic damage to the tissue. The low absorption of the ascorbic acid compared to the other 2 components above 290 nm, implies that the ascorbic acid contributes less in photophthalmic development due to solar radiation.