Screening patients with the corneal navigator.

Purpose: To present a corneal topography screening device for the detection of corneal ectasias and various refractive procedures based on corneal topography patterns.

Methods: A database of corneal topography patterns were analyzed and used to "train" a neural network on nine different corneal topography patterns using nineteen corneal topography indices of corneal shape and power.

Results: Sample normal and corneal topographies were recognized correctly.

Advantages and disadvantages of the Zernike expansion for representing wave aberration of the normal and aberrated eye.

Purpose: Zernike expansion has been selected for use in describing wavefront aberrations in the human eye. The advantages and limitations of this approach are assessed for eyes with varying degrees of aberration.

Methods: Corneal topography examinations were taken with the Nidek OPD-Scan topographer/aberrometer.

Effect of inhibition of inflammatory mediators on trauma-induced stromal edema.

Purpose: To determine the specific biochemical pathways involved in the initial-phase inflammatory response that causes stromal edema after epithelial debridement of the rabbit cornea.

Methods: Adult New Zealand White rabbit corneas were treated with 2 mM synthetic inhibitor of metalloproteinase (SIMP)-1, 1 mM DFU (a specific cyclooxygenase [COX]-2 inhibitor) in 50/50 dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)/Ringer's solution, 300 KIU aprotinin (a serine protease inhibitor), 0.05% or 0.