Histologic Alterations Produced in the Eye by Oxygen at High Pressure

Abstract

Groups of albino guinea pigs were exposed to high concentrations of oxygen at several pressures and the eyes of the animals examined for histological changes both immediately and several months following the exposures. Normal animals as well as animals exposed to conditions of anoxia and hyperbaria were also examined. Ocular changes were observed only in the animals exposed to 100% oxygen at 3 and 5 atmospheres absolute. The primary alterations, which were found to be irreversible over the time of observation, included thinning of the corneal endothelium with darkening and condensation of the cytoplasm and pyknosis of the nuclei, and pyknosis and loss of nuclei from the epithelium of the lens. © 1972, American Medical Association. All rights reserved.