PURPOSE The corneal epithelium is essential for maintaining corneal transparency, and efforts have been made to develop improved techniques for corneal epithelial transplantation in patients with total limbal failure. We evaluated the suitability of transplanted cultivated human conjunctival epithelium (HCjE) as a corneal epithelium replacement in rabbits with total corneal and limbal deficienc...

The unsteady response of the rabbit cornea to the normal periodic variations in tear tonicity which accompany the sleep-wake cycle is examined quantitatively in terms of a physical description of corneal mechanics and transport. Two different sets of experimental epithelial and endothelial flow conductivities and reflection coefficients are used, and the effect of variations in epithelial solut...

PURPOSES To describe corneal changes seen on in vivo confocal microscopy in patients with total limbal stem cell deficiency and to correlate them with cytological findings. METHODS A prospective case series including 13 eyes (8 patients) with total limbal deficiency was carried out. Stem cell deficiency was diagnosed clinically and by corneal impression cytology. Confocal images of the centra...

PURPOSE To quantify keratocyte density according to stromal region and subject age and to measure the thickness of the normal human cornea and its layers in vivo. METHODS Seventy normal corneas of 70 subjects were examined by confocal microscopy (contact lens wearers were excluded). Ages of subjects ranged from 12 to 80 years, with 10 subjects per decade. Images were recorded by continuously ...

BACKGROUND/AIMS Povidone-iodine (PVP -I) is applied for microbial decontamination of human eyes donated for transplantation. Concentrations and immersion times vary greatly. The effectiveness and toxicity of PVP-I were assessed for different decontamination protocols. METHODS Human donor eyes and corneas were immersed in different concentrations (5-100 mg/ml) of PVP-I for different times (2-3...

Bowman’s layer is composed of 22nm heterotypical type I collagen fibrils, which are randomly orientated (mean direction 45o to the corneal surface). Immediately beneath Bowman’s membrane, the cornea is arranged such that there are about 300 lamellae centrally and 500 lamellae peripherally. Each is composed of uniformly paralleldirected, 25nm heterotypical type I collagen fibrils with flattened ...

Background & Aims: This study was carried out to determine the leading indications for corneal transplantation in Kerman province. Methods: Medical records of 186 patients underwent corneal transplantation during 3 years (2004-2006) in Shafa Medical Center were evaluated retrospectively. The initial diagnosis and causes of corneal grafting were recorded. Infectious keratitis (Bacterial, Fungal,...

BACKGROUND/AIMS Fluid transport across the in vitro corneal epithelium is short lived, hence difficult to detect and characterise. Since stable rates of fluid transport across several cultured epithelial cell layers have been demonstrated, the behaviour of confluent SV40 transformed rabbit corneal epithelial cells (tRCEC) grown on permeable supports was examined. METHODS Fluid transport was d...

Unusual giant nodules on the posterior surface of Descemet's membrane were observed in two out of over 400 corneae examined during routine histopathological reporting. Both of the patients, a 60-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman, had histories of corneal trauma. Neither was associated with chronic keratitis or corneal dystrophy. Light microscopy showed these nodules to be composed of materia...

Six patients had penetrating keratoplasty following thermokeratoplasty (TKP) at different time intervals. The standard temperature used was between 90 degree and 95 degree C. with constant saline irrigation. The corneal buttons were studied by light and electron microscopy. Immediate changes observed included epithelial necrosis, marked degneration of keratocytes, and endothelial edema. After 2...