Optometry Commons^™

Use Of Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography To Manage Acute Corneal Hydrops In Keratoconus, Michelle K. Man Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Background: Acute corneal hydrops, a rare complication of keratoconus and other corneal ectatic disorders, is characterized by a break in Descemet’s membrane (DM). The subsequent corneal edema caused by leakage of aqueous into the stroma and epithelium may result in corneal scarring that often reduces visual acuity and may mandate corneal transplantation as resolution. The initial diagnosis is sometimes challenging but can be confirmed with anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). AS-OCT is also useful in deciding treatment regimen.

Case Report: This case report discusses the use of AS-OCT to aid in the diagnosis of acute corneal hydrops in a …

Cryopreserved Amniotic Membrane For Corneal Epithelial Abrasions: Case Series, Laura Goldberg Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Background: Corneal abrasions are one of the most frequent ocular conditions encountered in the emergency department and can lead to significant morbidity and visual impairment. Amniotic membrane has inherent anti-inflammatory and anti-scarring properties that help accelerate epithelialization and help prevent the complications known to be associated with corneal injuries. Herein we assessed the time till complete epithelialization after in-office application of cryopreserved amniotic membrane in cases of traumatic corneal abrasions in the acute setting.

Case Reports: A total of ten eyes (5 right eye; 5 left eye) of ten consecutive patients (8 Male; 2 Female; average age 40.9 ± 17.8 …

Comparative Efficacy Of Current Topical Treatments For Dry Eye Disease: A Review Of Pivotal Clinical Trials Evaluating Corneal Staining Outcomes, Ahmad Fahmy, Masih Ahmed, Stephen Pflugfelder, Anara Serikbaeva, Fang-Wei Tsao

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

• 40293775

Mouse Corneal Immune Cell Heterogeneity Revealed By Single-Cell Rna Sequencing, Ebru Yaman, Nicole Heyer, Cintia S De Paiva, Mary Ann Stepp, Stephen C Pflugfelder, Jehan Alam

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

PURPOSE: This study aimed to define the heterogeneity, spatial localization, and functional roles of immune cells in the mouse cornea using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and immunofluorescent staining.

METHODS: Enriched mouse corneal immune cells (C57BL/6 strain, age 16-20 weeks) underwent single-cell RNA sequencing library preparation, sequencing, and analysis with Seurat, Monocle 3, and CellChat packages in R. Pathway analysis used Qiagen Ingenuity Pathway Analysis software. Immunostaining confirmed cell distribution.

RESULTS: We identified 14 distinct immune cell clusters (56% myeloid and 44% lymphoid). Myeloid populations included resident macrophages, conventional dendritic cells (cDC2s), Langerhans cells, neutrophils, monocytes, and mast cells. Additionally, lymphocyte …

Impact Of Obesity And Age On Mouse Corneal Innervation At The Epithelial-Stromal Interface, Justin A Courson, Rolando E Rumbaut, Alan R Burns

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

PURPOSE: The corneal epithelium is the most highly innervated structure in the body. Previously, we reported a novel event whereby stromal axons fuse with basal epithelial cells, limiting nerve penetration into the epithelium. Although corneal-epithelial nerves undergo changes in sensitivity and distribution throughout life and in response to an obesogenic diet, it is unknown if neuronal-epithelial cell fusion is altered. Here, we sought to determine if neuronal-epithelial cell fusion frequency correlates with obesogenic diet consumption and age.

METHODS: Corneas were collected from C57BL/6 mice and evaluated for neuronal-epithelial cell fusion frequency using serial block-face scanning electron microscopy. To assess the …

Age-Related Differences In The Mouse Corneal Epithelial Transcriptome And Their Impact On Corneal Wound Healing, Anmar Abu-Romman, Kaitlin K Scholand, Gowthaman Govindarajan, Zhiyuan Yu, Sonali Pal-Ghosh, Mary A Stepp, Cintia S De Paiva

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

PURPOSE: Aging is a risk factor for dry eye. We sought to identify changes in the aged mouse corneal epithelial transcriptome and determine how age affects corneal sensitivity, re-epithelialization, and barrier reformation after corneal debridement.

METHODS: Corneal epithelium of female C57BL/6J (B6) mice of different ages (2, 12, 18, and 24 months) was collected, RNA extracted, and bulk RNA sequencing performed. Cornea sensitivity was measured with an esthesiometer in 2- to 3-month-old, 12- to 13-month-old, 18- to 19-month-old, and 22- to 25-month-old female and male mice. The 2-month-old and 18-month-old female and male mice underwent unilateral corneal debridement using a …

Ectoine, From A Natural Bacteria Protectant To A New Treatment Of Dry Eye Disease, Xin Chen, Na Lin, Jin-Miao Li, Haixia Liu, Anmar Abu-Romman, Ebru Yaman, Fang Bian, Cintia S De Paiva, Stephen C Pflugfelder, De-Quan Li

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Ectoine, a novel natural osmoprotectant, protects bacteria living in extreme environments. This study aimed to explore the therapeutic effect of ectoine for dry eye disease. An experimental dry eye model was created in C57BL/6 mice exposed to desiccating stress (DS) with untreated mice as controls (UT). DS mice were dosed topically with 0.5-2.0% of ectoine or a vehicle control. Corneal epithelial defects were detected via corneal smoothness and Oregon Green dextran (OGD) fluorescent staining. Pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines were evaluated using RT-qPCR and immunofluorescent staining. Compared with UT mice, corneal epithelial defects were observed as corneal smoothness irregularities and strong …

Optical Coherence Elastography Measures The Biomechanical Properties Of The Ex Vivo Porcine Cornea After Lasik, Achuth Nair, Fernando Zvietcovich, Manmohan Singh, Mitchell P Weikert, Salavat R Aglyamov, Kirill V Larin

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

SIGNIFICANCE: The biomechanical impact of refractive surgery has long been an area of investigation. Changes to the cornea structure cause alterations to its mechanical integrity, but few studies have examined its specific mechanical impact.

AIM To quantify how the biomechanical properties of the cornea are altered by laser assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) using optical coherence elastography (OCE) in ex vivo porcine corneas.

APPROACH: Three OCE techniques, wave-based air-coupled ultrasound (ACUS) OCE, heartbeat (Hb) OCE, and compression OCE were used to measure the mechanical properties of paired porcine corneas, where one eye of the pair was left untreated, and the …

Conditional Deletion Of Cd25 In The Corneal Epithelium Reveals Sex Differences In Barrier Disruption, Anmar Abu-Romman, Kaitlin K Scholand, Sonali Pal-Ghosh, Zhiyuan Yu, Yashaswini Kelagere, Ghasem Yazdanpanah, Winston W-Y Kao, Vivien J Coulson-Thomas, Mary Ann Stepp, Cintia S De Paiva

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

PURPOSE: IL-2 promotes activation, clonal expansion, and deletion of T cells. IL-2 signals through its heterotrimeric receptor (IL-2R) consisting of the CD25, CD122 and CD132 chains. CD25 knockout (KO) mice develop Sjögren Syndrome-like disease. This study investigates whether corneal CD25/IL-2 signaling is critical for ocular health.

METHODS: Eyes from C57BL/6 mice were collected and prepared for immunostaining or in-situ hybridization. Bulk RNA sequencing was performed on the corneal epithelium from wild-type and CD25KO mice. We generated a conditional corneal-specific deletion of CD25 in the corneal epithelium (CD25

RESULTS: In C57BL/6 mice, CD25 mRNA was expressed in ocular tissues. Protein expression …

Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling In The Eye, Ruchi Shah, Cynthia Amador, Steven T Chun, Sean Ghiam, Mehrnoosh Saghizadeh, Andrei A Kramerov, Alexander V Ljubimov

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Wnt signaling comprises a group of complex signal transduction pathways that play critical roles in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis during development, as well as in stem cell maintenance and adult tissue homeostasis. Wnt pathways are classified into two major groups, canonical (β-catenin-dependent) or non-canonical (β-catenin-independent). Most previous studies in the eye have focused on canonical Wnt signaling, and the role of non-canonical signaling remains poorly understood. Additionally, the crosstalk between canonical and non-canonical Wnt signaling in the eye has hardly been explored. In this review, we present an overview of available data on ocular non-canonical Wnt signaling, including developmental …

An Ocular Th1 Immune Response Promotes Corneal Nerve Damage Independently Of The Development Of Corneal Epitheliopathy, Alexia Vereertbrugghen, Manuela Pizzano, Florencia Sabbione, Irene Angelica Keitelman, Carolina Maiumi Shiromizu, Douglas Vera Aguilar, Federico Fuentes, Cintia S De Paiva, Mirta Giordano, Analía Trevani, Jeremías G Galletti

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Proper sight is not possible without a smooth, transparent cornea, which is highly exposed to environmental threats. The abundant corneal nerves are interspersed with epithelial cells in the anterior corneal surface and are instrumental to corneal integrity and immunoregulation. Conversely, corneal neuropathy is commonly observed in some immune-mediated corneal disorders but not in others, and its pathogenesis is poorly understood. Here we hypothesized that the type of adaptive immune response may influence the development of corneal neuropathy. To test this, we first immunized OT-II mice with different adjuvants that favor T helper (Th)1 or Th2 responses. Both Th1-skewed mice (measured …

Editorial: Molecular Mechanisms In Ocular Development And Disease, Rajalekshmy Shyam, Daisy Y Shu, Elizabeth Zuniga-Sanchez, Deepika Vasudevan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Non-Invasive Tear Break-Up Detection With The Kowa Dr-1Α And Its Relationship To Dry Eye Clinical Severity, Stephen Pflugfelder, Lauren Nakhleh, Yasushi Kikukawa, Shin Tanaka, Takuya Kosugi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The purpose of this study is to compare visual versus software detection of non-invasive tear break-up with the KOWA DR-1α tear interferometer and investigate the relationship between non-invasive tear break-up time (NIBUT) and dry eye clinical severity. Tear interferometry with the KOWA DR-1α, together with a standardized comprehensive ocular surface/tear evaluation, was performed on 348 consecutive eyes. Investigator visually detected or software detected non-invasive tear break-up and NIBUT were measured and compared on a subset of these examinations. The relationship between software-detected NIBUT and categorical dry eye severity based on irritation symptoms and corneal and conjunctival dye staining scores was …

Investigating The Effect Of Dissolved Oxygen-Assisted Corneal Cross-Linking (Cxl) On Porcine Corneas, Julianni Dar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Corneal cross-linking is a clinical procedure that is known to stop the progression of keratoconus, an eye disease that affects the cornea’s structure, ultimately leading to vision loss in its advanced stages. The typical treatment plan includes riboflavin and UV-A exposure in the hope to increase the mechanical properties of the cornea. There are two types of CXL pathways, with Type-II CXL requiring oxygen. Naturally, the dissolved oxygen is limited in the cornea; therefore, limiting the effect of Type-II CXL. This study proposes to improve the Type-II CXL contribution by integrating dissolved oxygen during the standard CXL treatment used in …

Gut Microbiota From Sjögren Syndrome Patients Causes Decreased T Regulatory Cells In The Lymphoid Organs And Desiccation-Induced Corneal Barrier Disruption In Mice, Laura Schaefer, Claudia M Trujillo-Vargas, Firas S Midani, Stephen C Pflugfelder, Robert A Britton, Cintia S De Paiva

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Sjögren syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder characterized by secretory dysfunction in the eye and mouth; in the eye, this results in tear film instability, reduced tear production, and corneal barrier disruption. A growing number of studies show that homeostasis of the ocular surface is impacted by the intestinal microbiome, and several 16S sequencing studies have demonstrated dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota in SS patients. In this study, we utilized metagenomic sequencing to perform a deeper analysis of the intestinal microbiome using stools collected from sex- and age-matched healthy (n = 20), dry eye (n = 4) …

Single-Cell Transcriptomics Identifies Limbal Stem Cell Population And Cell Types Mapping Its Differentiation Trajectory In Limbal Basal Epithelium Of Human Cornea, De-Quan Li, Sangbae Kim, Jin-Miao Li, Qianmiao Gao, Jongsu Choi, Fang Bian, Jiaoyue Hu, Yun Zhang, Jin Li, Rong Lu, Yumei Li, Stephen C Pflugfelder, Hongyu Miao, Rui Chen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

PURPOSE: This study aimed to uncover novel cell types in heterogenous basal limbus of human cornea for identifying LSC at single cell resolution.

METHODS: Single cells of human limbal basal epithelium were isolated from young donor corneas. Single-cell RNA-Sequencing was performed using 10x Genomics platform, followed by clustering cell types through the graph-based visualization method UMAP and unbiased computational informatic analysis. Tissue RNA in situ hybridization with RNAscope, immunofluorescent staining and multiple functional assays were performed using human corneas and limbal epithelial culture models.

RESULTS: Single-cell transcriptomics of 16,360 limbal basal cells revealed 12 cell clusters belonging to three lineages. …

Pterygium Recurrence And Corneal Stabilization Point After Pterygium Excision Using The Controlled Partial Avulsion Fibrin Glue Technique, Mohd Radzi Hilmi, Khairidzan Mohd Kamal, Mohd Zulfaezal Che Azemin

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the pterygium recurrence rate and corneal stabilization point after pterygium excision via the controlled partial avulsion fibrin glue technique using multiple corneal parameters.

Methods: One hundred eyes of 100 patients who had undergone primary pterygium excision surgery via the controlled partial avulsion fibrin glue technique were retrospectively reviewed. Corneal stabilization points were determined over four follow-up sessions (i.e., the 1st, 3rd, 6th, and 12th months after surgery) based on changes in Simulated-K, corneal irregularity measurement, shape factor, and toric mean keratometry. Post-operative courses were followed for 12 months after surgery. Recurrence was …

Development Of Tissue-Derived Biomaterial ‘Cornea-Ecmix’: Its Utility In The Management Of Corneal Diseases, Somshuvra Bhattacharya

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Transparent cornea, at the front of the eye, mediates vision by refracting incoming light. Due to its anatomical position, cornea is susceptible to a variety of physical and chemical insults. Severe damage caused to cornea due to trauma or disease conditions can impair vision. While the cornea’s inherent repair mechanism restores partial vision loss, transplantation is the only viable treatment option if its transparency is completely lost. A global shortage of transplantable donor tissues necessitates the need for the development of functional corneal prosthetics. As cornea mostly is made up of extracellular matrix (ECM), several studies have explored the utility …

Targeted Aav5-Smad7 Gene Therapy Inhibits Corneal Scarring In Vivo, Suneel Gupta, Jason T. Rodier, Ajay Sharma, Elizabeth A. Giuliano, Prashant R. Sinha, Nathan P. Hesemann, Arkasubhra Ghosh, Rajiv R. Mohan

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Corneal scarring is due to aberrant activity of the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling pathway following traumatic, mechanical, infectious, or surgical injury. Altered TGFβ signaling cascade leads to downstream Smad (Suppressor of mothers against decapentaplegic) protein-mediated signaling events that regulate expression of extracellular matrix and myogenic proteins. These events lead to transdifferentiation of keratocytes into myofibroblasts through fibroblasts and often results in permanent corneal scarring. Hence, therapeutic targets that reduce transdifferentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts may provide a clinically relevant approach to treat corneal fibrosis and improve long-term visual outcomes. Smad7 protein regulates the functional effects of TGFβ signaling …

The Impact Of Modern Soft Contact Lens Wear On Corneal Curvature And Thickness And On The Outcomes Of Refractive Laser Surgery, Aoife Lloyd Mckernan, Veronica O'Dwyer, Luisa Simo Mannion

Other

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Modern Soft Contact Lens Wear On Corneal Curvature And Thickness & On The Outcomes Of Refractive Laser Surgery, Aoife Lloyd Mckernan, Veronica O'Dwyer, Luisa Simo Mannion

Other

No abstract provided.

Cessation Of Soft Contact Lens Wear Prior To Refractive Laser:Is Two Weeks Enough?, Aoife Lloyd Mckernan, Luisa Simo Mannion, Linda Moore

Other

No abstract provided.

Cessation Of Soft Contact Lens Wear Prior To Refractive Laser- Is Two Weeks Long Enough?, Aoife Lloyd Mckernan, Luisa Simo Mannion, Linda Moore

Other

No abstract provided.

Soft Contact Lens-Induced Corneal Warpage, Aoife Lloyd Mckernan, Luisa Simo Mannion, Linda Moore

Articles

No abstract provided.