The influence of parenteral ascorbate on the strength of corneal wounds.

Rabbits receiving subcutaneous ascorbate after corneal wounding showed significant elevation of aqueous humor ascorbate levels but no enhancement of wound breaking strength when compared to controls. In a second group of rabbits, perilimbal alkali burning reduced aqueous humor ascorbate levels one-half to one-third normal. In these perilimbally burned eyes with wounds in clear cornea, subcutaneous ascorbate significantly raised the aqueous humor ascorbate level and enhanced breaking wound strength compared to controls. We conclude that parenterally administered ascorbate has no salutory effect on the breaking strength of corneal wounds in the normal rabbit eye. In contrast, subcutaneous ascorbate has a very favorable effect on the breaking strengths of corneal wounds in those eye with depressed aqueous humor ascorbate.