Measurements of corneal thickness, endothelial cell size, endothelial permeability to fluorescein, and intraocular pressure were made in two groups of human subjects: 21 persons with cornea guttata (early Fuchs dystrophy without epithelial edema) and 17 persons age- and sex-matched but with normal corneas. Statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in all four measu...

PURPOSE Previously reported from this laboratory are two distinct factors responsible for corneal endothelium modulation: basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and the corneal endothelium modulation factor (CEMF) that is released by inflammatory cells. The altered phenotypes mediated by these two distinct factors--marked increase in cell proliferation, cell shape changes, and synthesis of fibri...

As the primary refractive surface of the eye, clarity of the cornea is essential for optimal visual acuity. Many disease processes can irreversibly disrupt corneal clarity requiring corneal transplantation to restore visual function. The most common indication for corneal transplantation is opacification from corneal edema. Corneal edema arises from dysregulation of fluid homeostasis in the cor...

PURPOSE To establish a method for assessing graft viability, in-vivo, following corneal transplantation. METHODS Optimization of calcein AM fluorescence and toxicity assessment was performed in cultured human corneal endothelial cells and ex-vivo corneal tissue. Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty grafts were incubated with calcein AM and imaged pre and post preparation, and in-situ af...

PURPOSE To analyze the effects of soft contact lenses on central corneal thickness and morphologic characteristics of the corneal endothelium in diabetic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ultrasound pachymetry and noncontact specular microscopy were performed on 26 diabetic patients who regularly use soft contact lenses (group 1), 27 diabetic patients who do not use soft contact lenses (group 2...

Objective. This meta-analysis aimed to compare the outcomes and postoperative complications between femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) and conventional phacoemulsification cataract surgery (CPCS). Methods. Bibliographic databases, including PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library, were systematically searched for references on or before September 2015 regarding the outcomes and co...

Hematoporphyrin derivative (HpD) is a systemically administered photosensitizing agent that may be of value in the treatment of solid tumors. When corneal endothelial cells were perfused in the specular microscope with HpD and exposed to a 25-W incandescent light at 5 cm (5.5 mW/cm2) there was anatomic disruption of corneal endothelial cells and swelling of the corneal stroma. Perfusion with 0....

human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (hbmscs) have the potential to differentiate into cells such as adipocyte, osteocyte, hepatocyte and endothelial cells. in this study, the differentiation of hbmscs into endothelial like-cells was induced in presence of vascular endothelial growth factor (vegf) and insulin-like growth factor (igf-1). the differentiated endothelial cells were exam...

PURPOSE Fibrin deposition in the anterior chamber of the eye occurs in response to injury or inflammation and can permanently damage the corneal endothelium. Fibrin functions as a mediator of inflammation and wound healing by affecting cell morphology and function in a variety of cells, including corneal endothelial cells. We hypothesized that fibrin can directly induce corneal endothelial cell...