title: Ultraviolet analysis of donated corneas: a portable prototype.
abstract: As technology improves human vision, some procedures currently performed may be causing a decrease of the natural UV protection of the cornea. A portable dual beam system prototype was assembled for physicians for clinical studies of these effects on the corneas endowing two types of 300-400 nm evaluations: 1, regularly donated corneas and 2, simulating refractive keratectomy by corneal lamellae removal. The system performs 500 measurements/s, providing ±0.25% precision for the transmittance. The measurements performed on the prototype are 95% in agreement with Cary 17 and HR4000CG-UV-NIR Ocean Optics spectrophotometers. Preliminary studies on cadaveric corneas demonstrate that, as the stromal layer is reduced (∼150 μm depth), there is significant loss--an average of 7.1%.--of the cornea's natural UV protection. The prototype is being tested in an eye bank for routine evaluation of donor corneas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering, EESC University of São Paulo, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Victor A C
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Lincoln
authors.forename: Liliane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ventura
authors.forename: Sidney J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Faria e Sousa
mesh_terms: D002102:Cadaver; D003315:Cornea / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005125:Eye Banks; D006801:Humans; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014019:Tissue Donors; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*