A light microscopic study of ground substance changes in alkali-burned corneas.

Retrocorneal fibrous membranes occurred in 100% of 33 rabbit eyes burned with 4N sodium hydroxide. All membranes exhibited markedly positive colloidal iron/Alcian blue ground substance staining relative to unburned sections of the same corneas and to normal controls. Retrocorneal fibrous membranes also gradually acquired PAS reactivity greater than either unburned sections of the same corneas or uninjured eyes. Colloidal iron/Alcian blue reactivity of retrocorneal fibrous membranes was similar to that which developed in the alkali-induced stromal scars. One histologic section revealed retrocorneal membranogenesis by stromal components that had penetrated a small alkali-induced break in Descemet's membrane.