[Aqueous humor pH in experimental lye burns and influence of different treatment measures (author's transl)]

300 rabbit corneas were burned for 1 minute by applying a filter paper of 10 mm diameter soaked in different concentrations of NaOH. The aqueous humor pH was then measured at certain time intervals and after different treatment methods until the physiologic pH of 7.6 was reached. The results were statistically analysed. Group 1, 2 and 3 were burned in 1n NaOH, 3n NaOH, and 6n NaOH respectively without any treatment. In these groups a "therapeutic" pH-level of 8.5 was measured on an average 0.5, 2.5 and 5 hours after the burn (Table 1 and Fig. 2). Group 4 and 5 again were burned with 6n NaOH. In group 4 the burn was followed by constant irrigation with physiologic saline solution by means of the Morgan Therapeutic Lens (Fig. 1a and b). With this regimen a pH of 8.5 was reached after 2.5 hours (Table 1 and Fig. 3). In group 5 the physiologic saline solutions was replaced by a buffer solution (Isogutt) and a pH of 8.5 was measured after only one hour (Table 1 and Fig. 3). Based upon these results it is felt that severe lye burns should be treated by constant irrigation with a buffer solution for several hours. A treatment that can easily be performed by use of the Morgan Therapeutic Lens.