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Correlation between corneal and ambient temperature with particular focus on polar conditions
Author(s) -
Slettedal Jon Klokk,
Ringvold Amund
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/aos.12657
Subject(s) - cornea , ambient pressure , ophthalmology , environmental chamber , materials science , chemistry , medicine , meteorology , physics
Purpose To examine the relationship between human corneal and environmental temperature. Methods An infrared camera was used to measure the corneal surface temperature in a group of healthy volunteers as well as in an experimental setting with donor corneas and an artificial anterior chamber, employing circulating saline at +37°C. Liquid nitrogen was used to obtain a very low temperature in the experimental setting. High ambient temperature measurements were performed in a sauna. Results In healthy volunteers, the cornea required at least 20–30 min to adapt to change in ambient temperature. The relationship between corneal and external temperature was relatively linear. At the two extremes, +83°C and −40°C, the corneal temperature was +42°C and +25.1°C, respectively. In the experimental setting, corneal temperature was +24.3°C at air temperature −40°C. Conclusion A rather stable aqueous humour temperature of +37°C and high thermal conductivity of the corneal tissue prevent corneal frostbite even at extremely low ambient temperatures.