Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the contribution of mast cells to early neutrophil recruitment during ocular inflammation. Methods In a murine model of corneal injury, the epithelium and anterior stroma were removed using a handheld motor brush. Cromolyn sodium (2% in PBS) eye drops were administered topically for mast cell inhibition. In vitro, bone marrow-derived mast c...

PURPOSE Heme oxygenase (HO)-2 is highly expressed in the corneal epithelium and is a component of the heme oxygenase system that represents an intrinsic cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory system based on its ability to modulate leukocyte migration and to inhibit expression of inflammatory cytokines and proteins via its products biliverdin/bilirubin and carbon monoxide (CO). We have shown that...

Objective: To evaluate the effect of riboflavin-ultraviolet-A-induced cross-linking (CXL) following corneal alkali burns in rabbits. Methods: The right corneas and limbi of ten rabbits were burned using a 1N solution of NaOH and the animals were then divided into two groups: a control group submitted to clinical treatment alone and an experimental group that was treated 1 h after injury with CX...

PURPOSE Sulfur mustard (SM) exposure results in dose-dependent morbidities caused by cytotoxicity and vesication. Although lesions resulting from ocular exposure often resolve clinically, an idiopathic delayed mustard gas keratopathy (MGK) can develop after a moderate or severe exposure. Sequelae include persistent keratitis, recurring epithelial lesions, corneal neovascularization, and corneal...

Therapies for corneal disease and injury often rely on artificial implants, but integrating cells into synthetic corneal materials remains a significant challenge. The electrochemically formed collagen-based matrix presented here is non-toxic to cells and controls the proliferation in the corneal fibroblasts seeded onto it. Histology and biomolecular studies show a behavior similar to corneal s...

PURPOSE The authors have investigated the hypothesis that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis is regulated during corneal endothelial wound healing. Previous studies have shown that PGE2 is an important mediator of endothelial mitosis, migration, and differentiation. METHODS Biosynthesis of PGE2 was investigated in a wound closure model of the cultured rabbit corneal endothelium and in cultures...

PURPOSE Tenascin (TN) is a large hexameric extracellular matrix glycoprotein that is expressed in developing organs and tumors. It has also been reported that TN is expressed in the embryonic cornea and during corneal wound healing. However, the role of TN in the cornea is not fully known. In this study, the role of TN in corneal wound healing was examined using the TN knockout (KO) mouse. ME...

PURPOSE To evaluate visual results, comfort of use, safety, and efficacy of mini scleral contact lenses in optical management in patients with traumatic aphakia and severe concomitant irido-corneal injury. METHODS In a case series, eight eyes with post traumatic aphakia and severe concomitant irido-corneal injury that were evaluated at the Contact Lens Clinic of Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran, I...

Proteinase inhibitors have been shown to prevent corneal ulceration and perforation when used immediately after an experimental alkali burn injury. To evaluate the clinical efficacy of a synthetic metalloproteinase inhibitor, HSCH2CH[CH2CH(CH3)2]CO-Phe-Ala-NH2(SIMP), treatment with inhibitor was withheld until corneal ulceration ensued after a standard alkali injury to the rabbit eye. When topi...

Corneal transparency relies on the precise arrangement and orientation of collagen fibrils, made mostly Type I V fibrils proteoglycans (PGs). PGs are essential for correct fibrillogenesis maintaining corneal homeostasis. We investigated spatial temporal distribution glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) after a chemical injury. The composition chondroitin sulfate (CS)/dermatan (DS) heparan (HS) were charac...