PURPOSE To clarify the usefulness of multilayer amniotic membrane transplantation in an unusual case of calcareous corneal degeneration in a patient with graft-versus-host disease. METHODS A 20-year-old Caucasian woman had bilateral calcareous corneal degeneration of one year of evolution, secondary to graft-versus-host disease. Treatment for both eyes with topical steroids and antibiotic oin...

Corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) is a successful technique used to slow the progression of corneal ectatic disease, mainly keratoconus. It is able to achieve this aim with a single application of vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and ultraviolet-A light to the corneal stroma where it results in crosslinks to form between the collagen fibres, resulting in corneal stiffening. We describe the different ...

Central and peripheral nervous system involvement may occur during the course of Behçet’s disease (BD). In vivo corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) can detect corneal small fiber damage and immune cell density. The aim of this study was to assess central corneal sensitivity, corneal subepithelial nerve plexus morphology and dendritic cell (DC) density in patients with BD. Forty-nine consecutive p...

In vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) of the cornea is becoming an indispensable tool in the cellular study of corneal physiology and disease. This technique offers non-invasive imaging of the living cornea with images comparable to that of ex vivo histology. The ability to provide high-resolution images of all layers in the living cornea has resulted in new discoveries of corneal pathology at the...

Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is a common disease for which corneal transplantation is the only treatment option in advanced stages, and alternative treatment strategies are urgently required. Expansion (≥50 copies) of a non-coding trinucleotide repeat in TCF4 confers >76-fold risk for FECD in our large cohort of affected individuals. An FECD subject-derived corneal endothelial cel...

INTRODUCTION The incidence of dry eye disease, which mainly affects the corneal epithelium, is rising. The main treatment is still the use of artificial tears capable of improving the humidification and lubrication of the corneal epithelium, and avoiding its progressive functional failure. HP-Guar is a new compound used for this purpose. METHODS We performed a prospective, masked and paired s...

We have established a mouse model of corneal fusariosis that permits the evaluation of fungal infection and pathogenesis. Corneas of immunocompetent and cyclophosphamide-treated adult BALB/c mice were topically inoculated with Fusarium solani after corneal scarification. Eyes were scored for corneal involvement daily for 8 days and at 2 weeks after infection. Eyes were enucleated at various tim...

AIMS To estimate the incidence of corneal melting or necrotising keratitis in association with systemic disease in the Yorkshire Region and to determine the type and duration of the systemic association. METHODS In a prospective study, vigorous attempts were made to identify all patients presenting with newly diagnosed corneal melting over a 3 year period. RESULTS 27 patients were identifie...

PURPOSE To determine the importance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A (ETA) as a virulence factor in corneal disease. METHODS Isogenic mutants deficient in ETA were constructed in P. aeruginosa strains PAO1 and ATCC 19660 by allelic exchange and then evaluated for virulence in a mouse model of bacterial keratitis. The effect of ETA on adherence to scarified corneal epithelium was assessed ...

INTRODUCTION Corneal ulcers are the second most-common cause of preventable blindness after cataract in tropical developing countries. Fungal corneal ulcers constitute 30 to 62 % of the total microbial culture-positive corneal ulcers. OBJECTIVE To study the epidemiological characteristics, risk factors and laboratory diagnosis of fungal corneal ulcer in the Sundarban Region, West Bengal, east...