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Purpose: To investigate the relationship between corneal permeability and nonenzymatic cross-link density., Methods: Corneas were dissected from 90 cadaveric porcine eyes. Samples were incubated for 24 hours with control solution or methylglyoxal at concentrations of 0.01%, 0.10%, and 1.00%. Nonenzymatic cross-link density in treated and control groups was quantified by papain digest and fluorescence spectrophotometry. Control and treated corneas were mounted in a customized Ussing-type chamber connected to vertical tubing, and specific hydraulic conductivity was determined according to the descent of a column of degassed saline at room temperature. Permeability to diffusion of fluorescein in a static chamber was determined for a similar set of corneal samples., Results: Methylglyoxal treatment effectively increased nonenzymatic cross-link content, as indicated by the average fluorescence for each group. Specific hydraulic conductivity (m(2)) was reduced with increasing cross-link density. Similarly, the permeability coefficient for the fluorescein solute consistently decreased with increasing methylglyoxal concentration, indicating diffusion impedance resulting from the treatment., Conclusions: Nonenzymatic cross-link density in the cornea can be significantly increased by treatment with methylglyoxal. Porcine cornea showed a nonlinear reduction in solute permeability and specific hydraulic conductivity with increasing cross-link density. This model suggests that age-related nonenzymatic cross-link accumulation can have a substantial impact on corneal permeability.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between scleral permeability and nonenzymatic cross-link density., Methods: Scleral discs 18 mm in diameter were dissected from the medial and lateral equatorial regions of 60 cadaveric porcine eyes. Samples were incubated for 24 hours with control solution or methylglyoxal at concentrations of 0.001%, 0.01%, 0.10%, and 1.00%. Nonenzymatic cross-link density in treated and control groups was quantified with the use of papain digest and fluorescence spectrophotometry. Treated scleral discs were mounted in a customized Ussing-type chamber connected to vertical tubing, and specific hydraulic conductivity was determined according to the descent of a column of degassed saline at room temperature. Permeability to diffusion of fluorescein in a static chamber was determined for another set of treated scleral samples., Results: Methylglyoxal treatment effectively increased nonenzymatic cross-link content, as indicated by the average fluorescence for each group. Specific hydraulic conductivity (m(2)) was reduced with increasing cross-link density. Similarly, the permeability coefficient for the fluorescein solute consistently decreased with increasing methylglyoxal concentration, indicating diffusion impedance from the treatment., Conclusions: Nonenzymatic cross-link density can be significantly increased by treatment with methylglyoxal. Porcine sclera showed a nonlinear reduction in solute permeability and specific hydraulic conductivity with increasing cross-link density. This model indicates that age-related nonenzymatic cross-link accumulation can have a substantial impact on scleral permeability.