LIGHT TRANSMISSION BY CORNEAS AQUEOUS HUMOR AND CRYSTALLINE LENSES OF FISHES

Corneas of lake trout and rainbow trout absorb the same amount of light of 350 mμ wavelength. Below this wavelength lake trout corneas absorb more light than rainbow trout corneas, whereas, at 400 mμ and above they absorb an average of 20 per cent less. Data obtained in in vitro studies indicate that an average of only 7 per cent of the light that reaches the aqueous humor of either species is absorbed by it. Absolute transmission of light by crystalline lenses was not measured but wavelength where transmission was maximal, 50 per cent maximal and zero indicate that lenses from lake trout absorb more light of shorter wavelengths than do those from rainbow trout. The significance of these data with respect to the higher incidence of comeal and lenticular lesions found in hatchery-reared lake trout is discussed. © 1969.