Limbal epithelial stem cells (LESCs) are essential to maintain the transparent ocular surface required for vision. Despite great advances in our understanding of ocular stem cell biology over the last decade, the exact location of the LESC niche remains unclear. In the present study we have used in vitro clonal analysis to confirm that limbal crypts provide a niche for the resident LESCs. We ha...

Background/Aim: To describe the clinical progress and management of ocular side effects in a 35-year-old patient with metastatic breast cancer who underwent oral chemotherapy capecitabine lapatinib. Materials Methods: Slit lamp evaluation revealed bilateral perikeratic hyperemia, perilimbal conjunctival edema associated corneal marginal infiltrates epithelial anterior stromal defects both eyes....

The cornea requires constant epithelial renewal to maintain clarity for appropriate vision. A subset of stem cells residing at the limbus is primarily responsible for maintaining corneal epithelium homeostasis. Trauma and disease may lead to stem cell deficiency and therapeutic targeting to replenish the stemness capacity has been stalled by the lack of reliable corneal epithelial stem cell mar...

BACKGROUND It is not clear whether demographic or pterygium characteristics or limbal stem cell deficiency determine pterygium recurrence after surgery. PURPOSE To determine whether the demographic, pterygium characteristics, or limbal stem cell deficiency determine pterygium recurrence after excision. METHODS Of 190 patients operated and followed-up for 6 months, 101 and 89 underwent free ...

PURPOSE The authors recently developed a therapeutic technique for patients with limbal stem cell deficiency by harvesting ocular surface stem cells (SCs), expanding them on therapeutic contact lenses (CLs), and applying them to diseased corneas. The present study determined the proteins that bind to CLs and whether such factors, along with transplanted cells, are critical determinants for corn...