Corneal Nerve Regeneration After Collagen Cross-Linking Treatment of Keratoconus: A 5-Year Longitudinal Study.

Importance: It is unknown whether a neurotrophic deficit or pathologic nerve morphology persists in keratoconus in the long term after corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) treatment. Nerve pathology could impact long-term corneal status in patients with keratoconus.

Objective: To determine whether CXL treatment of keratoconus results in normalization of subbasal nerve density and architecture up to 5 years after treatment.

Effect of Storage Temperature on Key Functions of Cultured Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells.

Purpose. Replacement of the diseased retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) with cells capable of performing the specialized functions of the RPE is the aim of cell replacement therapy for treatment of macular degenerative diseases. A storage method for RPE is likely to become a prerequisite for the establishment of such treatment.

Effect of Storage Temperature on the Phenotype of Cultured Epidermal Cells Stored in Xenobiotic-Free Medium.

Purpose: Cultured epidermal cell sheets (CECS) are used in the treatment of large area burns to the body and have potential to treat limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) as shown in animal studies. Despite widespread use, storage options for CECS are limited. Short-term storage allows flexibility in scheduling surgery, quality control and improved transportation to clinics worldwide.

Substrates for Expansion of Corneal Endothelial Cells towards Bioengineering of Human Corneal Endothelium.

Corneal endothelium is a single layer of specialized cells that lines the posterior surface of cornea and maintains corneal hydration and corneal transparency essential for vision. Currently, transplantation is the only therapeutic option for diseases affecting the corneal endothelium. Transplantation of corneal endothelium, called endothelial keratoplasty, is widely used for corneal endothelial diseases.

Pre-Clinical Cell-Based Therapy for Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency.

The cornea is essential for normal vision by maintaining transparency for light transmission. Limbal stem cells, which reside in the corneal periphery, contribute to the homeostasis of the corneal epithelium. Any damage or disease affecting the function of these cells may result in limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD).

Focused Tortuosity Definitions Based on Expert Clinical Assessment of Corneal Subbasal Nerves.

Purpose: We examined agreement among experts in the assessment of corneal subbasal nerve tortuosity.

Methods: Images of corneal subbasal nerves were obtained from investigators at seven sites (Auckland, Boston, Linköping, Manchester, Oslo, Rostock, and Sydney) using laser-scanning in vivo confocal microscopy. A set of 30 images was assembled and ordered by increasing tortuosity by 10 expert graders from the seven sites.

Postoperative Changes in Corneal Epithelial and Stromal Thickness Profiles After Photorefractive Keratectomy in Treatment of Myopia.

Purpose: To study the corneal epithelial and stromal thickness profile changes after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for myopia.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of the postoperative corneal epithelial and stromal thickness profile changes in 46 left eyes of 46 patients treated with PRK for myopia. Corneal and epithelial thickness maps within the central 6 mm were obtained by anterior segment spectral-domain optical coherence tomography preoperatively and at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively.

Effect of Storage Temperature on Structure and Function of Cultured Human Oral Keratinocytes.

Purpose/aims: To assess the effect of storage temperature on the viability, phenotype, metabolism, and morphology of cultured human oral keratinocytes (HOK).

Materials And Methods: Cultured HOK cells were stored in HEPES- and sodium bicarbonate-buffered Minimum Essential Medium (MEM) at nine temperatures in approximately 4 °C increments from 4 °C to 37 °C for seven days. Cells were characterized for viability by calcein fluorescence, phenotype retention by immunocytochemistry, metabolic parameters (pH, glucose, lactate, and O2) within the storage medium by blood gas analysis, and morphology by scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy.

Autofluorescence imaging in the differential diagnosis of optic disc melanocytoma.

Purpose: Optic disc melanocytoma (ODM) is a benign tumour that usually occurs on or adjacent to the optic nerve head. The aim of the study was to evaluate fundus autofluorescence (FAF) imaging as a diagnostic tool in ODM.

Methods: Retrospective comparative case series study of six patients with ODM and a comparing group of four patients with juxtapapillary choroidal nevus (JCN) and four with juxtapapillary uveal melanoma (JUM).

Keratometric index obtained by Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography.

Purpose: To determine the keratometric indices calculated based on parameters obtained by Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT).

Methods: The ratio of anterior corneal curvature to posterior corneal curvature (Ratio) and keratometric index (N) were calculated within central 3 mm zone with the RTVue FD-OCT (RTVue, Optovue, Inc.) in 186 untreated eyes, 60 post-LASIK/PRK eyes, and 39 keratoconus eyes.

Concise review: transplantation of cultured oral mucosal epithelial cells for treating limbal stem cell deficiency-current status and future perspectives.

A number of diseases and external factors can deplete limbal stem cells, causing pain and visual loss. Ten years have passed since the first transplantation of cultured oral mucosal epithelial cells in humans, representing the first autologous cell-based therapy for severe bilateral limbal stem cell deficiency. Its steady increase in popularity since then can be attributed to the accumulating evidence of its efficacy in reverting limbal stem cell deficiency.

Serum-free and xenobiotic-free preservation of cultured human limbal epithelial cells.

Aim/purpose Of The Study: To develop a one-week storage method, without serum and xenobiotics, that would maintain cell viability, morphology, and phenotype of cultured human limbal epithelial sheets.

Materials And Methods: Human limbal explants were cultured on intact human amniotic membranes for two weeks. The sheets were stored in a hermetically sealed container at 23°C in either a serum-free medium with selected animal serum-derived compounds (Quantum 286) or a xenobiotic-free medium (Minimal Essential Medium) for 4 and 7 days.

Xenobiotic- and Serum-Free Culture of Oral Mucosal Epithelial Cells on Contact Lenses.

Purpose/aim: Cultured autologous oral mucosal epithelial cells (OMECs) have proven useful in the treatment of ocular surface disorders. This study is the first to investigate the potential of expanding OMEC in a xenobiotic- and serum-free medium using therapeutic contact lenses (CLs) as a substrate and carrier.

Materials And Methods: Porcine OMEC were seeded on laminin-coated lotrafilcon A therapeutic CLs with the density of 8 × 10(4) cells/lens and cultured in a defined serum and xenobiotic-free medium.

Reliability of corneal dynamic scheimpflug analyser measurements in virgin and post-PRK eyes.

Purpose: To determine the measurement reliability of CorVis ST, a dynamic Scheimpflug analyser, in virgin and post-photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) eyes and compare the results between these two groups.

Methods: Forty virgin eyes and 42 post-PRK eyes underwent CorVis ST measurements performed by two technicians. Repeatability was evaluated by comparing three consecutive measurements by technician A.

Effect of storage temperature on cultured epidermal cell sheets stored in xenobiotic-free medium.

Cultured epidermal cell sheets (CECS) are used in regenerative medicine in patients with burns, and have potential to treat limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD), as demonstrated in animal models. Despite widespread use, short-term storage options for CECS are limited. Advantages of storage include: flexibility in scheduling surgery, reserve sheets for repeat operations, more opportunity for quality control, and improved transportation to allow wider distribution.

Antioxidants Improve the Viability of Stored Adult Retinal Pigment Epithelial-19 Cultures.

Introduction: There is increasing evidence that retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) can be used to treat age-related macular degeneration, one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. However, the best way to store RPE to enable worldwide distribution is unknown. We investigated the effects of supplementing our previously published storage method with seven additives, attempting to improve the number of viable adult retinal pigment epithelial (ARPE)-19 cells after storage.

Corneal collagen cross-linking with and without epithelial removal: a contralateral study with 0.5% hypotonic riboflavin solution.

Purpose: Our main purpose was to compare safety and efficacy in the treatment of progressive keratoconus with "epithelium-on" and "epithelium-off" corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL). Our secondary purpose was to evaluate efficacy of CXL when hypotonic 0.5% riboflavin is used as photosensitizer.

Objective assessment of changes in nuclear morphology and cell distribution following induction of apoptosis.

Background: To objectively measure changes in nuclear morphology and cell distribution following induction of apoptosis.

Methods: A spontaneously immortalized retinal pigment epithelial cell line (ARPE-19) was cultured for three days in DMEM/F12 with 10% fetal bovine serum followed by 24 hours incubation in staurosporine to induce apoptosis. Cells that were not incubated in staurosporine served as control.

The impact of storage temperature on the morphology, viability, cell number and metabolism of cultured human conjunctival epithelium.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of storage temperature on the morphology, viability, cell number and metabolism of cultured human conjunctival epithelial cells (HCjEs).

Materials And Methods: Three-day cultured HCjEs were stored at nine different temperatures between 4 °C and 37 °C for four and seven days. Phenotype was assessed by immunofluorescence microscopy, morphology by scanning electron microscopy, viability and cell number by a microplate fluorometer and glucose metabolism by a blood gas analyzer.

Correlation of cytokine levels and microglial cell infiltration during retinal degeneration in RCS rats.

Microglial cells, which are immunocompetent cells, are involved in all diseases of the central nervous system. During their activation in various diseases, a variety of soluble factors are released. In the present study, the correlation between cytokine levels and microglial cell migration in the course of retinal degeneration of Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats was evaluated.

Optimization of Storage Temperature for Cultured ARPE-19 Cells.

Purpose. The establishment of future retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) replacement therapy is partly dependent on the availability of tissue-engineered RPE cells, which may be enhanced by the development of suitable storage methods for RPE. This study investigates the effect of different storage temperatures on the viability, morphology, and phenotype of cultured RPE.

Standardized baseline human corneal subbasal nerve density for clinical investigations with laser-scanning in vivo confocal microscopy.

Purpose: We established a baseline value for central corneal subbasal nerve density in a large, healthy cohort.

Methods: A total of 106 healthy volunteers (207 eyes) underwent full ophthalmic examination, including laser-scanning in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) of the central cornea. Images of the corneal subbasal nerve plexus were acquired and analyzed based on defined criteria.

miRNA and mRNA expression profiling identifies members of the miR-200 family as potential regulators of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in pterygium.

The current study investigates whether microRNA (miRNA) regulators of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), tissue fibrosis, and angiogenesis are differentially expressed in human primary pterygium. Genome-wide miRNA and mRNA expression profiling of paired pterygium and normal conjunctiva was performed in the context of conventional excision of pterygium with autotransplantation of conjunctiva (n = 8). Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to validate the expression of key molecules previously detected by microarray.

In vivo morphology of the limbal palisades of vogt correlates with progressive stem cell deficiency in aniridia-related keratopathy.

Purpose: To investigate morphologic alterations in the limbal palisades of Vogt in a progressive form of limbal stem cell deficiency.

Methods: Twenty Norwegian subjects (40 eyes) with congenital aniridia and 9 healthy family members (18 eyes) without aniridia were examined. Clinical grade of aniridia-related keratopathy (ARK) was assessed by slit-lamp biomicroscopy, and tear production and quality, corneal thickness, and sensitivity were additionally measured.