topographic findings of the porcine cornea

the porcine eye is often used as an ex vivo animal model in ophthalmological research. it is well-suited for investigations concerning refractive surgery; however, corneal topography data are scarce. this study investigated the corneal topography and pachymetry of the porcine eye to provide further reproducible data. we evaluated freshly enucleated porcine eyes (n = 16) by performing computerized corneal topographies (orbscan® iiz, bausch and lomb, usa). we assessed the steepest and flattest keratometric powers (k1 and k2 in diopters (d)), astigmatism (d), white-to-white (wtw) diameter (mm), thinnest point pachymetry (µm), anterior and posterior best-fit sphere (bfs) (d), refractive power of the anterior and posterior curvatures, and total refractive power of the cornea (d). the mean keratometric powers were 39.6 ± 0.89 d (k1) and 38.5 ± 0.92 d (k2), and the mean astigmatism was 1.1 ± 0.78 d. the wtw diameter had a mean of 13.81 ± 0.83 mm, and the mean corneal thickness was 832.6 ± 40.18 µm. the bfss were 38.14 ± 0.73 d (anterior) and 42.56 ± 1.15 d (posterior), and the mean refractive powers were 43.27 ± 1.08 d (anterior) and -5.15 ± 0.20 d (posterior); therefore, the mean of the total refractive power was 38.16 ± 1.00 d. the topography and pachymetry of the porcine cornea showed a specific configuration differing from the human cornea. when using animal ex vivo models like porcine corneas for experimental corneal surgery, those findings have to be considered.