the reduced corneal swelling in the aphakic eye , when compared with the phakic eye , could therefore be the result of either ( 1 ) a reduction in the overall metabolic activity of the epithelium , as indicated by the lower epithelial oxygen uptake rate and the thinner corneal epithelium in the aphakic eye , or ( 2 ) an increased efflux of lactic acid from the cornea resulting from an increased endothelial permeability to lactate .
C0459875
corneal epithelium
C0010031
cornea