Recurrent keratoconus: an analysis of breaks in Bowman's layer in corneal grafts.

Objective: To study in a masked fashion whether an objective histological feature associated with keratoconus (KCN) occurs in donor corneas in eyes originally receiving a corneal graft for KCN.

Methods: Two ocular pathologists performed a retrospective masked histological analysis of slides from donor buttons recovered from 21 eyes with a history of KCN undergoing repeat penetrating keratoplasty (failed-PK-KCN), 11 eyes that underwent their first PK due to KCN (primary KCN), and 11 eyes without history of KCN which underwent PK for other conditions (failed-PK-non-KCN). Breaks/gaps in Bowman's layer served as the pathological feature indicative of recurrent KCN.

Complement factor B is critical for sub-RPE deposit accumulation in a model of Doyne honeycomb retinal dystrophy with features of age-related macular degeneration.

EFEMP1 R345W is a dominant mutation causing Doyne honeycomb retinal dystrophy/malattia leventinese (DHRD/ML), a rare blinding disease with clinical pathology similar to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Aged Efemp1  R345W/R345W knock-in mice (Efemp1ki/ki) develop microscopic deposits on the basal side of retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE), an early feature in DHRD/ML and AMD. Here, we assessed the role of alternative complement pathway component factor B (FB) in the formation of these deposits.

Differential and Altered Spatial Distribution of Complement Expression in Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Purpose: Dysregulation of the alternative complement pathway is a major pathogenic mechanism in age-related macular degeneration. We investigated whether locally synthesized complement components contribute to AMD by profiling complement expression in postmortem eyes with and without AMD.

Methods: AMD severity grade 1 to 4 was determined by analysis of postmortem acquired fundus images and hematoxylin and eosin stained histological sections.

Overlapping Immunohistochemical Features of Adenocarcinoma of the Nonpigmented Ciliary Body Epithelium and Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Purpose: To find immunohistochemical markers that distinguish adenocarcinoma of the nonpigmented ciliary epithelium (NPCE) from metastatic carcinoma, especially metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Methods: Three cases of adenocarcinoma of the NPCE were examined histologically with hematoxylin-eosin stain and immunohistochemical stains including vimentin, AE1/AE3, Cam 5.

Molecular Genetics of Intraocular Tumors.

Purpose: To explore the value of molecular technologies in the pathologic evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of retinoblastoma and uveal melanoma.

Methods: Review of the peer-reviewed literature on the molecular pathology of primary intraocular tumors.

Conclusion: Molecular tests are playing an increasingly important role in the diagnosis of intraocular tumors.