Is Keratoconus an Inflammatory Disease? The Implication of Inflammatory Pathways.

Purpose: Keratoconus is considered a non-inflammatory condition. Recently however, increased proinflammatory cytokines have been detected in the tears of keratoconic patients and clinical and immunohistochemical observations reported infiltration of matured dendritic cells and leukocytes. Our laboratory utilized cytokine antibody arrays to elucidate the inflammatory aspects of keratoconus.

Extreme Descemet's membrane rupture with hydrops in keratoconus: Clinical and histological manifestations.

Purpose: To study the clinical and histological manifestations of an extreme Descemet's membrane rupture as a result of keratoconus.

Observations: Using Periodic acid-Schiff assay to study a keratoconic cornea with an extreme rupture showed that the ruptured Descemet's membrane had retracted and folded into scrolls and ridges. The dimensions of the rupture were estimated to be 3.

An Immunohistochemical Study of Inflammatory Cell Changes and Matrix Remodeling With and Without Acute Hydrops in Keratoconus.

Purpose: To determine the inflammatory cell and matrix changes in advanced keratoconus, including acute hydrops, using immunohistochemical analysis.

Methods: The corneal tissue from eight subjects with keratoconus undergoing corneal transplantation (three keratoconic buttons, five buttons post acute hydrops—one of them with extensive neovascularization following hydrops) was compared with tissue from two normal corneoscleral rims (n = 10). The corneas were sectioned and analyzed with specific markers for macrophages, lymphocytes, dendritic cells, and scar associated matrix molecules laminin, fibronectin, tenascin-C, and type III collagen.

A Study Investigating a Possible Link Between Lens Protein in the Vitreous Fluid of Eyes After Uncomplicated Cataract Surgery and Chronic Cystoid Macular Edema.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine if the lens protein aquaporin 0 (AQP0) is present in the vitreous of pseudophakic eyes of patients presenting with chronic cystoid macular edema (CME).

Design: A case-control study was conducted.

Methods: Ten patients undergoing therapeutic vitrectomy for chronic CME after uncomplicated cataract surgery were enrolled in this study.