The potential cause of blindness worldwide includes diseases of the cornea, ocular surface (limbal stem cell deficiency, allergic conjunctivitis, dry eye diseases), and retinal diseases. The presence of stem cells (limbal stem cells) in the basal region of the limbus makes it an important tool for the ocular regeneration and also in maintaining the transparency of eye by replacing the corneal e...

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES Sources of autologous tissue that can functionally replace the corneal epithelium have been considered as an alternative to allogenous limbal transplants for limbal stem cells deficiency (LSCD). The aim of the present study was to compare the characterization of oral mucosa with limbal epithelial cells by markers using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-...

PURPOSE To investigate the etiology of corneal dysfunction in the Pax6(+/-) mouse model of aniridia-related keratopathy. METHODS Mosaic patterns of X-gal staining were compared in the corneal and limbal epithelia of female Pax6(+/-) and Pax6(+/+) littermates, age 3 to 28 weeks, hemizygous for an X-linked LacZ transgene, and Pax6(+/+), LacZ(-)<-->Pax6(+/+), LacZ(+) and Pax6(+/+), LacZ(-)<-->Pa...

purpose: to evaluate the results of one 60-degree block conjunctival limbal autograft (clau) surgery in patients with unilateral total limbal stem cell deficiency (lscd). methods: five eyes of 5 patients were included. all patients had a history of chronic total unilateral lscd due to a chemical injury. two patients underwent one 60-degree block clau with amniotic membrane transplantation, two ...

purpose: to report the clinical findings and compare the outcomes of different surgical techniques evolved over time in a large series of patients with delayed-onset mustard gas keratitis (mgk). methods: this interventional retrospective case series includes patients with complications of delayed mgk. medical and surgical interventions to address dry eye, limbal ischemia and limbal stem cell de...

purpose: to report the result of limbal autografting in primary and recurrent pterygium. methods: in this case series, all patients who were referred to our clinic at farabi hospital, isfahan, iran for treatment of pterygium were included. indications of surgery included chronic ocular irritation, impaired or threatened vision, ocular motility problem and cosmetic reasons. under subconjunctiona...

Purpose Limbal niche cells (LNCs) play a pivotal role in regulating limbal epithelial stem/progenitor cells (LESCs). This study aimed to investigate whether Notch signaling is involved in LNCs' regulation of LESCs. Methods Rat limbus was digested by dispase and collagenase, respectively. Limbal niche cells were isolated by serial passage of collagenase-digested cells on coated Matrigel in a m...

The depletion of limbal stem cells due to various diseases leads to corneal opacification and visual loss. The unequivocal identification and isolation of limbal stem cells may be a considerable advantage because long-term, functional recovery of corneal epithelium is linked to graft constructs that retain viable stem cell populations. As specific markers of limbal stem cells, the ATP-binding c...

PURPOSE To investigate the appearance of limbal and bulbar hyperaemia in normal eyes, their relationship and the inter-observer agreement of clinical grading. METHODS The right eyes of 120 healthy, non-contact lens-wearing subjects (m = 57, f = 63, median age = 45 years, range 18-77 years) were examined by two trained observers. Limbal and bulbar hyperaemia were scored using the Cornea and Co...