Differences in sphere-forming cells from keratoconic and normal corneal tissue: Implications for keratoconus pathogenesis.

Keratoconus is primarily an anterior corneal disorder of unclear aetiology. Stem cells may play a role in the perpetuation of keratoconus, although this has yet to be definitively established. Sphere-forming cells from normal human donor corneas have previously been shown to be a heterogenous mix of epithelial, stromal, stem and progenitor cell components which have potential for treatment of corneal dystrophies.

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.

Sphere-forming corneal cells repopulate dystrophic keratoconic stroma: Implications for potential therapy.

Background: Keratoconus is a degenerative corneal disease characterised by aberrant cell behaviour and loss of matrix that can result in vision loss. Cells extracted from peripheral corneas can form stem cell-enriched spheres, which have shown the potential to repopulate the normal peripheral corneal stroma upon sphere implantation but have not been previously studied in keratoconic tissue.

Aim: To investigate the therapeutic potential of stem cell-enriched spheres formed from extracted peripheral human corneal cells when introduced to keratoconic tissue.

Auckland Cataract Study IV: Practical application of NZCRS cataract risk stratification to reduce phacoemulsification complications.

Importance: Reduction of intraoperative complications in phacoemulsification cataract surgery.

Background: To assess practicability of a risk stratification system, the New Zealand Cataract Risk Stratification (NZCRS) system, in a major teaching hospital service, without investigator oversight, to ascertain whether benefits identified in research studies are maintained in busy clinical practice.

Design: Prospective cohort study in a major public teaching hospital.