Figure 12.

Illustration of the stress state in the normal living cornea. A nearly uniform fluid pressure exists in the stroma at the magnitude of the IOP. The in-plane lamellae are responsible for resisting such pressure in the lateral direction. In the transverse direction, the applied IOP at the posterior surface balances with the fluid pressure. At the anterior surface, the inclined lamellae insert into Bowman's layer and act as anchors resisting the stromal fluid pressure applied to the epithelium. (Online version in colour.)