PURPOSE OF REVIEW Hyperosmolarity is a central mechanism causing ocular surface inflammation and eye irritation in typical patients suffering from tear dysfunction. Tear composition in dry eyes, or dysfunctional tear syndrome, may destabilize the tear film and cause ocular surface epithelial disease. Increased activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), especially MMP-9, plays a critical role...

Since alkaline substances can rapidly penetrate into the cornea and subsequently damage limbal stem cells, another source of stem cells may be necessary to reconstruct the ocular surface. Omentum has some such characteristics like ability to regenerate tissue as well as anti-inflammatory capacity. Presence of adult stem cells and pluripotent embryonic cell markers make it suitable in wound heal...

PURPOSE To define the role of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in Cl(-) secretion at the mouse ocular surface in vivo. METHODS Open-circuit potential differences (PDs) across the fluid-bathed ocular surface were measured in anesthetized wild-type and cystic fibrosis (CF) mice in response to Cl(-) ion substitution and transport agonists and inhibitors. RESULTS B...

PURPOSE To study the correlation between the signals and symptoms of dry eye in Sjögren's syndrome patients. METHODS We formed the case group with 17 Sjögren's syndrome patients and the control group with 25 normal patients. For evaluation of the symptoms the "Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI)" questionnaire was applied to both groups and, after that, all the individuals were submitted to t...

Dear Sir, May I take advantage of this section in the S.E.O. journal to encourage our colleagues to utilize lab tests for a better and faster diagnosis of ocular surface diseases. In most patients it is enough to perform a clinical study with slit lamp and perform a few clinical tests, but in some cases diagnostic needs call for special laboratory tests, the execution of which does not require ...

PURPOSE To investigate the relationships of dry eye symptoms and corneal and conjunctival sensitivity to pneumatic stimulation, tear film stability, and clinical ocular surface characteristics in symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects. METHODS Ninety-seven subjects were enrolled and grouped by a questionnaire-based single score for symptoms of ocular dryness (none to trace, non-dry group; mild...

Human adenoviruses (HAdV), species D in particular (HAdV-D), are frequently associated with epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC). Although the infection originates at the ocular surface epithelium, the mechanisms by which HAdV-Ds bypass the membrane-associated mucin (MAM)-rich glycocalyx of the ocular surface epithelium to trigger infection and inflammation remain unknown. Here, we report that a...

Chemical injuries of the eye may produce extensive damage to the ocular surface epithelium, cornea, and anterior segment, resulting in permanent unilateral or bilateral visual impairment. Pathophysiological events which may influence the final visual prognosis and which are amenable to therapeutic modulation include 1) ocular surface injury, repair, and differentiation, 2) corneal stromal matri...

1 PhD. candidate, Keio University School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology and Johnson and Johnson Ocular Surface Visual Optics Department. Tokyo Japan. 2 Associate Professor, Keio University School of Medicine, Johnson and Johnson Ocular Surface Visual Optics Department. Tokyo Japan 3 Professor and Chairperson, Keio University School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology. Tokyo Japan.