A histochemical and x-ray diffraction study of keratoconus epikeratoplasty. Report of two cases.
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| Abstract |
Two epikeratoplasty lenticules (Epi-L) with keratoconus host corneas (Epi-H) were removed by penetrating keratoplasty because of poor visual acuity although they were clinically clear. Light microscopy showed that the keratocytes were underpopulated and unevenly distributed in Epi-L. Transmission electron microscopy showed that abnormal sized proteoglycans (PGs) were unevenly accumulated in the stromas of both Epi-L and Epi-H. The low-angle x-ray diffraction results from case 1 showed lower collagen interfibrillar spacings, compared with those from one keratoconus cornea, seven cryolenticules, and four normal human corneas. The fibril diameters and the collagen axial periodicity D were similar in all tissues. Allowing selected samples to swell, the interfibrillar spacing increased by 30.6-45.5% in Epi-H and by 29.8% in the keratoconus control. However, it increased by only 7.6-9.7% in Epi-L and by 11.4% in a cryolenticule. The uneven distribution of PGs and the lower interfibrillar spacings in the swollen lenticules suggest that there is an uneven distribution of water in different parts of the Epi-L and Epi-H stromas. This may lead to a variation of the refractive index or optical properties in the stroma and the deterioration of the visual image, which may explain the poor visual results.
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| Authors | Y Huang, S J Tuft, K M Meek |
| Journal | Cornea (Cornea) Vol. 15 Issue 3 Pg. 320-8 (May 1996) ISSN: 0277-3740 [Print] United States |
| PMID | 8713938 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't) |
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