To assess cell death inducing properties of hyperthermia on eye lids of full term Sprague- Dawley rats. Methods: An experimental study was carried out on eyelid of 64 full term Sprague-Dawley rats divided into a control group (A) and an experimental group (B) in whom hyperthermia was induced by placing them in an incubator for one hour from 8.00am to 9.00am daily. Eyes of all the animals were examined with a hand lens daily to look for the beginning and completion of eyelid separation.

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... ic slides were prepared and histological events studied. Results: Eyelid separation began on 13th day of life in control animals and on 10th or 11th day in case of experimental animals. Completion occurred at age of 17 days in control and on 14th in experimental animals signifying cell death induced by hyperthermia. Histological study confirmed that hyperthermia expedites cornification; a type of programmed cell death. Conclusion: Hyperthermia expedites initiation and completion of eye opening by increasing the rate of cell death.