Thermokeratoplasty (TKP) temperature profile.

Changes in corneal architecture with the application of controlled heat have been shown to be clinically useful and well tolerated. A fine hypodermic microthermistor was utilized to record the temperature at both superficial and deep levels of the rabbit cornea after the application of the thermokeratoplasty (TKP) probe at 90° C. or 130° C. These temperature readings revealed that the known corneal shrinkage temperature (Ts) of 65" C. was reached in anterior and deep stroma while the endothelial temperature was markedly lower. The temperature profiles obtained from these experiments illustrate a very rapid temperature peak with an equally rapid temperature decay. This "pulse" of high temperature shrinks the collagen without denaturing or melting it.