Corneal Thickness in Pigs Measured by Ultrasound Pachymetry In Vivo

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate the normal thickness and diameter of the pig cornea using, under general  anesthesia, 13 female, young, domestic Danish Landrace pigs. The thickness was measured, for the first  time in vivo, and were: 666 μm centrally, 657 μm nasally, 713 μm inferiorly, 669 μm temporally, and 714  μm superiorly (mean values). The cornea diameters were also measured, using calipers, and were: 14.9 mm  horizontally and 12.4 mm vertically (mean values). Conclusion: The pig cornea is only slightly thicker than  the human cornea. However, unlike the human cornea, no significant difference in thickness exists between  the central and the tempero-nasal peripheral locations of the pig cornea. The pig could prove useful as  source for corneas in human xenotransplantation.