Superficial calcification was produced in the normal rabbit cornea by mild irradiation with a carbon dioxide laser. The calcification was entirely extracellular and closely resembled that observed in human band keratopathy, which was characterized as hydroxyapatite by x-ray diffraction. The electron-microscopic appearance of calcific spherules and conglomerates in early corneal calcification is presented. The calcific spherules arise at the basal plasma membrane surface of the epithelial cells in close relation to their basement membrane.