Diabetic eye screening with variable screening intervals based on individual risk factors is safe and effective in ophthalmic practice.

Purpose: To test in a 'real world' diabetic eye-screening programme, a computer-based personal risk evaluation for progression to sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy. Screening intervals were individualized, and clinical outcomes, safety and cost-effectiveness documented.

Methods: The RETINARISK algorithm was used in an ophthalmology clinic in Norway.

Pilot study on the time course of apoptosis in the regenerating corneal epithelium.

Purpose: To determine whether apoptosis contributes to regeneration of the corneal epithelium following erosion and following ultraviolet irradiation.

Methods: Central corneal erosions were made on one eye of 16 rats. One eye of another set of 16 rats was exposed to UVB irradiation.

A previous abrasion in the contralateral eye influences the cell kinetics during healing of a central corneal abrasion.

Purpose: To study the influence of a previous erosion in the fellow eye on the proliferative response during healing of a central corneal erosion.

Methods: A corneal abrasion was made on the right eye of 20 rats. After 1 week a corneal erosion was made in the left eye of the pre-treated animals and in 20 previously untreated animals.

Apoptosis in shed human corneal cells.

Purpose: To determine whether shear forces applied to the corneal epithelium by the repeated insertion and removal of a hydrogel contact lens alter the size and number of cells removed and to determine the contribution of apoptosis to this process. METHODS; Human corneal cells were collected from eight healthy subjects by sequential contact lens cytology (20 lens insertions and removals). Collected cells were stained with acridine orange for counting and measurement of cell size.

UVB-induced formation of (6-4) photoproducts in the rat corneal epithelium.

The induction of DNA photoproducts in rat corneal epithelium was studied after in vivo exposure to different doses of ultraviolet B light at 297 nm. Affinity-purified antibodies with a major specificity against UV-induced (6-4) photoproducts were used. The results indicate a dose dependent formation of (6-4) photoproducts.