We evaluated the efficacy of autologous expanded corneal epithelial cell transplants derived from harvested limbal biopsy cultured on a thermoreversible polymer (Mebiol Gel) for the management of unilateral limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD). Corneal limbal biopsies from 12 rabbits were cultured on a thermoreversible polymer Mebiol Gel at 37 degrees C. Cells were harvested from the dishes after 3 weeks by reducing temperature to 4 degrees C. Autologous transplantation was undertaken to reconstruct the experimentally induced limbal stem cell deficiency in the rabbit eyes. The corneas of both eyes of all rabbits were harvested later for molecular studies. Reparative surgery was a total success in seven rabbits, partial success in two, and failure in three eyes. Histology of the seven successful eyes showed the successful growth of the corneal epithelium. Immunohistochemistry and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction showed the cornea phenotype and stem cell-associated markers in the limbus of the seven successful eyes, indicating the homing of these cells into limbus. In the three failure cases and in the two control rabbit eyes, used in the study, histology showed presence of goblet cells and vascularization in the stroma with abortive formation of corneal epithelium. Our results suggest that transplantation of autologous limbal epithelial cells grown in thermoreversible polymer Mebiol Gel may restore a nearly normal ocular epithelial surface in eyes with unilateral LSCD.

Cystoid macular edema did not occur in the early period after pediatric cataract surgery using current surgical techniques. Longer follow-up is required to ascertain the incidence of CME in the late postoperative period.

A 27-year-old man had excimer photoastigmatic keratectomy in the right eye and laser in situ keratomileusis in the left eye for the treatment of equivalent myopia. Preoperative slitlamp examination did not reveal evidence of keratoconus, central corneal pachymetry was 485 microm in the right eye and 500 microm in the left eye, and corneal topography revealed asymmetric bow-tie astigmatism with inferior steepening in the right eye and a small area of inferior steepening in the left eye. Twenty-two months after surgery, the patient complained of poor vision in the left eye. Slitlamp examination of the left eye revealed central corneal thinning and protrusion, with a Fleischer ring within the flap. Corneal topographic evaluation revealed a stable map in the right eye and central corneal steepening indicative of keratectasia in the left eye.

A 26-year-old man developed painless inferior subepithelial infiltrates away from the site of ablation in both eyes after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for myopia. Clinical characteristics of the corneal infiltrates resembled staphylococcal-immune infiltrates. The condition responded to treatment with topical diluted steroids and antibiotics. There was no residual corneal scarring. The infiltrates did not affect the refractive outcome of the surgery. Recognition of this rare entity will help clinicians avoid aggressive investigative and treatment modalities that can affect the results of PRK.

Corneal topographic changes in atypical PMD are similar to those seen in typical PMD but can involve the superior cornea.