In vivo scanning slit confocal microscopy is a useful tool for studying corneal cell populations. Central corneal cell densities were found to decrease significantly with age only in the endothelium. For the first time in human corneas using in vivo confocal microscopy, this study statistically confirms a higher apparent number of keratocytes in the anterior stroma than in the posterior stroma.

In vivo confocal microscopic findings of Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy are described for the first time in a series of cases. Pathological changes in Fuchs' dystrophy were detected in all corneal layers, more frequently in the posterior layers. Endothelial cell counts obtained with confocal microscopy were statistically similar to those obtained with standard specular microscopy.

An indirect immunohistochemical technique was used to monitor the expression of cellular fibronectin (cFN) and tenascin (TN) in the rabbit cornea after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in a 1 year follow up study. Rabbits received a 5 0 D myopic PRK, and were killed 3 days, 1, 3, 6, or 12 months after the operation. In most corneas, secondary epithelial defects appeared after the primary healing (mean 6-3 (SD 1.2) days). Corneal haze appeared a few weeks after PRK and was observed throughout the follow up. Three days after wounding an immunoreaction for cFN was observed as a bright narrow subepithelial line, but no immunoreaction for TN could be seen in the anterior third of the corneal stroma. However, at 1-6 months a similar location of immunoreactions for both cFN and TN was observed. Both were found in the anterior stroma at depths of 30-50 ,um. At 12 months, only a trace of cFN immunoreaction but no TN immunoreaction could be discerned. Our results suggest that subepithelial scar tissue contains both cFN and TN up to 12 months. (Br_J Ophthalmol 1995; 79: 65-69)

No abstract

In the period 1956-1974, 31 new cases of retrolental fibroplasia (RLF) were diagnosed at the Helsinki University Eye Hospital. All were alive in 1974. 90% weighed less than 1500 g at birth and the gestational age of less than 30 weeks at birth was present in 85%. All patients had required supplementary oxygen during the first weeks of life. 84% of the eyes had visual acuity of finger counting 1 m or less and when classified according to the corrected visual acuity in the better eye, 71% of the patients were practically blind according to the classification by Rintelen. 81% of the eyes showed one of the cicatricial stages of RLF, III to V, and 45% showed the grade V of the disease. 11% of the eyes showed corneal opacities, 44% a flat or absent anterior chamber, 11% had intraocular pressure of greater than or equal to 30 mmHg and 21% showed lenticular opacities. When the period of the observation was surveyed, it was found that during the latter half of the observation period, twice as many new cases of RLF were born. At a rough estimate it was calculated that in 1956-1974 at least 50 new cases of RLF developed in Finland.