Endothelial cell density in relation to morphology

Corneal endothelium of 121 normal corneas was studied with the clinical specular microscope, and the relationship between cell density, cell morphology, and age was examined. Our observations indicate a decrease in cell density with age in homomegethous endothelium but no such correlation in a polymegethous endothelium

Sessile macrophages forming clear endotheliumlike membrane on the inside of successful keratoprosthesis

Clinical observation and cytological study of a successful “through and through” type of Cordona keratoprosthesis, which was removed along with a corneal button about 20 years after its implantation in an aphakic eye, revealed an acellular epitheliumlike film on its outer surface, firm anchoring of its supporting skirt by stable fibrous connections to the stroma, and a continuous separating membrane composed of a homogeneous proteinaceous film with fibroblastlike cells of macrophage origin on its inner surface. The significance of the successful adaptation of the plastic materials of the prosthesis to the tissues of the cornea and the fluid of the inner eye for the future of tissue engineering is discussed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/47390/1/417_2005_Article_BF02173533.pd

Eye bank issues: II. Preservation techniques: warm versus cold storage

Most of the tissue used for penetrating keratoplasty is issued through eye banks that store the corneoscleral button either in hypothermic storage at 2–6°C or in organ culture at 31–37°C

Post-keratoplasty corneal ulcers and bandage lenses

Abstract.285 cases of penetrating keratoplasty in whom hydrophilic bandage lenses were fitted were analyzed for the occurrence of corneal ulcers. Of these eyes 26 developed culture-proven bacterial ulcers. No correlation could be made between any particular type of contact lens and the development of corneal ulcer. Although no single factor could be delineated which may be responsible for this problem, this risk appears to be escalated where host defense mechanisms are impaired. The clinician should recognize the potential risk in using bandage lenses when the cornea is immunosuppressed and completely denervated

Cell size-shape relationships in corneal endothelium

The shape of corneal endothelial cells was studied from specular photomicrographs of 121 normal corneas. The predominant number of cells were hexagonal in shape (48% to 90%), with pentagonal (15% to 35%) and heptagonal (25% to 38%) cells constituting the greater portion of the remaining endothelium. Corneal endothelium with a greater number of hexagonal cells demonstrated minimal variation in cell size

Morphology of graft endothelium and donor age

The corneal endothelium of 42 clear corneal transplants was studied with a specular microscope. The endothelial cell morphology was analysed by using a computerised image analysis system. A quantitative index was developed to study the degree of variation in cell size. By applying this objective index we observed that pleomorphism is independent of age, and considerable alteration occurs in cell morphology during healing

Adolescent cystinosis: a clinical and specular microscopic study of an unusual sibship.

Six members of a sibship originally consisting of 8 offspring lived to teenage. Five of these developed the adolescent form of cystinosis. Since adolescent cystinosis is autosomal recessive, such a high incidence of affected members is of uncommon occurrence. Depending on whether the sibship size (n) is known as 6 to 8, it should occur only in approximately 1.5% or 5.8% of sibships of corresponding size. Specular microscopy was used to study the corneal stroma of all 3 of the living, affected members of this sibship and the conjunctiva of one of the siblings. Vivid, needle-shaped crystals were observed in the corneal stroma. Smaller, variably shaped crystals were observed in the conjunctiva. The crystals seen with specular microscopy fit the description of those studied with light and electron microscopy

Automated pattern analysis of corneal endothelium

A proper understanding of the endothelial cell morphology of the cornea is of great significance to the corneal surgeon. Specular microscopy allows direct visualization of endothelial cell morphology and a proper analysis of these data needs automated computerized type of systems. Automated pattern analysis seems to offer a good option in this direction. From our experience it appears that such systems can be used with great advantage in the analysis of endothelial cell morphology. The data obtained from such analysis help to develop some indices for various facets of endothelial cell morphology