Cytologlogic Evidence of Corneal Diseases with Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency

Abstract

Impression cytology can be used to diagnose and monitor corneal diseases with limbal deficiency, which manifest distinct clinical problems and are generally poor candidates for penetrating keratoplasty. The identification of category 1 diseases allows one to consider limbal (stem cell) transplantation for surface reconstruction. The presence of category 2 diseases indicates that limbal stem cell functions can be modulated by developmental, hormonal, neuronal, vascular, and inflammatory factors in the limbal stroma.