Morphological changes in rabbit corneal endothelium after surgical injuries

Purpose: To understand the responses of the corneal endothelium to different types of surgery, we chronologically investigated the morphologic changes in the endothelial cells. Methods: We did a mechanical incision, epithelial ablation, and excimer laser radiation on rabbit corneas and observed the morphologic changes in the endothelial cells for up to 2 weeks after surgery under a light microscope and an electron microscope. Results: Although we observed enlarged intercellular spaces between neighboring endothelial cells, intercellular adhesion kept the cells tightly joined near their apexes immediately after each procedure. No signs of endothelial cell degeneration were observed after the procedures, but we did observe many Golgi apparati, rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticula, and secreted granules, indicating that the cells had been activated. After each procedure, the intercellular junctions and spaces required different amounts of time to return to normal. Conclusions: These results suggest that the different kinds of surgical injuries affected the corneal endothelium but that the changes were reversible.