Amniotic membrane extract provides significant improvement in in vitro wound healing model while preserving the basic cellular functions of human corneal epithelial cells.

Although many preclinical and clinical studies are ongoing on amniotic membrane extract (AME), an amniotic membrane-derived product developed to support ocular surface healing, the effect of AME on the basic cellular functions and properties of human corneal epithelial cells (hCECs) has not been clearly defined. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of AME supplementation to the culture media, on basic cellular functions of hCECs and on expression of specific cell markers of hCECs, as well as to determine its effectiveness in an experimental in vitro wound model. hCECs were seeded with the constant cell density in 6, 24 and 48 well plates.

Clinical, demographic, and outcome differences between isolated and non-isolated lacrimal gland involvement in idiopathic orbital inflammation.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical data of idiopathic orbital inflammation with isolated and non-isolated lacrimal gland involvement.

Methods: The medical records of patients who were diagnosed with idiopathic orbital inflammation between January 2016 and June 2022 were evaluated. The patients were divided into 2 groups: isolated and non-isolated lacrimal gland involvement, and were compared in terms of clinical characteristics, response to treatment and recurrence rates.

Evaluation of the relationship between dry eye syndrome severity and corneal sensitivity.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the objective severity of dry eye disease subjective symptoms, and corneal sensitivity.

Methods: The study included 62 eyes from 31 healthy volunteers and 150 eyes from 75 patients diagnosed with dry eye disease . Participants underwent the Schirmer I test, tear break-up time assessment, and corneal staining evaluation using the Oxford Scale.

Refractory corneal melting due to IgG4-related disease: Successful management via buccal mucosal graft transplantation.

PurposeTo present the first case of isolated corneal involvement in IgG4-RD, managed successfully with oral mucosal grafting due to the destructive course of the disease.Case reportA 56-year-old female one-eyed patient was referred to our clinic with a diagnosis of unresponsive infectious corneal melting. The ophthalmologic examination revealed light perception visual acuity, intense conjunctival inflammation and an infected area of approximately 4 × 5 mm with accompanying melting.

Establishing Normative Data for Pediatric Corneal Sensitivity.

Purpose: To define the normative data of corneal sensitivity in the pediatric age group, which currently lacks existing literature.

Methods: The study included 122 children aged 5 to 18 years who had applied for a routine ophthalmological examination at the Ege University Department of Ophthalmology. A total of 122 right eyes were included in the study.

Limbal explant cultures on amniotic membrane: The effects of passaging the explants on cell phenotype.

In vitro expansion of limbal epithelial stem cells (LESCs) while maintaining their characteristics has the potential to address the urgent need in ophthalmology clinics for the treatment of limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD). Herein, we investigated the impact of explant passaging on the phenotype of LESCs cultured on human amniotic membrane (hAM). Following initial coverage of the hAM surface by cells (passage 0), the rabbit limbal explants underwent two additional passages.

Successful Management of a Refractory Scedosporium (Pseudallescheria) boydii Keratitis With Sclerokeratoplasty.

Here, we present the successful sclerokeratoplasty surgery in resistant Scedosporium (Pseudallescheria) boydii keratitis. A 47-year-old male patient presented with complaints of 4-mm corneal infiltration and 1-mm hypopyon after an eye injury with organic material. Topical treatments with vancomycin (50 mg/mL), ceftazidime (50 mg/mL), voriconazole (10 mg/mL), and amphotericin B (0.

Further evaluation of the effectiveness and superiority of hyaluronic acid combined preparations (trehalose, dexpanthenol and coenzyme Q10 & vitamin E) in experimental alkali model.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to undertake a more comprehensive evaluation of the efficacy and comparative advantage of hyaluronic acid (HA) combined preparations in an experimental alkali model.

Method: In the present study, experimental chemical burns were induced in the right eyes of 22 New Zealand rabbits. The eyes were then divided into four groups for subsequent analysis: Trehalose + HA (Group T, n = 6); dexpanthenol + HA (Group P, n = 6); coenzyme Q10+vitamin E + HA (Group V, n = 6); and one control group (CG, n = 4).

A five-year report of pediatric non-viral microbial keratitis in a tertiary eye center.

Purpose: To evaluate the demographic data, risk factors, clinical outcomes, microbial spectrum, and treatment in pediatric microbial keratitis cases.

Methods: The medical data including demographics, predisposing factors, accompanying diseases, clinical course, and microbial culture results was retrospectively evaluated. A total of 27 patients younger than 18 years who were diagnosed as microbial keratitis in a tertiary referral center between March 2019 and December 2023 were included in the study.

Beyond transplants: current and future therapeutic potential of amniotic membrane extract (AME) in ophthalmology.

There is no established consensus or standardized method for the preparation of amniotic membrane extract (AME). Consequently, various preparation, preservation, and sterilization techniques have been employed. To obtain AME rich in bioactive components with high therapeutic efficacy, each step of the preparation process is of critical importance.

Can unilateral lattice dystrophy be triggered by cataract surgery in an elderly patient?

Purpose: Aim is to report unilateral lattice corneal dystrophy (LCD) possibly triggered after cataract surgery in an elderly patient and to demonstrate anterior segment optic coherence tomography (AS-OCT) findings.

Case Report: A 77-year-old male presented with irritation and photophobia in the left eye. His medical history revealed that the patient had undergone cataract surgery on the left eye 5 months ago and his symptoms exaggerated after the surgery.

A Rare Intervention in a Rare Disease: Simultaneous Bilateral Keratoplasty in Bilateral Keratitis.

The purpose of this report is to present simultaneous bilateral penetrating keratoplasty (PK) in keratitis (AK). A 42-year-old male with keratoconus, wearing bilateral hybrid contact lenses, presented with pain in the left eye. He had a history of intrastromal corneal ring segment placement in the right and PK in the left eye.

Comparison of Corneal Tomography Parameters in the Diagnosis of Keratoconus in Early and Late Pediatric Age Group.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine demographic and tomographic parameters in pediatric patients diagnosed with keratoconus and to evaluate the difference between early and late age periods.

Methods: This retrospective study included patients younger than 18 years of age who were diagnosed with keratoconus. All examination findings, demographic data, tomography parameters, and keratoconus stages were recorded.

Corneal transplant awareness in medical students by grade and the effect of subject-specific education on this awareness level.

Purpose: Corneal transplantation is the most commonly performed transplant surgery. Medical students, doctors of the future, will educate the public about organ transplantation and raise public awareness on this issue. The first aim of this study is to evaluate the initial awareness of medical students about corneal transplantation, then to provide training to these students and finally to evaluate the change in their knowledge on this subject.

Topical application of amniotic membrane extract at a clinically correlated dose is effective in limiting complications in an experimental ocular alkaline burn model.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical and histopathological effectiveness of topical amniotic membrane extract (AME) applied at a clinically relevant dose in an experimental corneal alkaline burn model and to compare the results with amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) as one of the most frequently used biologically based treatment options. To create an alkaline burn model, NaOH-impregnated filter paper was applied to all rabbits for 30 s. Rabbits were divided into 3 groups: Group 1 (n = 6): AME eye drop; Group 2 (n = 6): AMT; Group 3 (n = 4): control group.

Thermal ocular burns and evaluation of associated limbal stem cell deficiency in the light of global consensus.

Purpose: The aim of the present study is to examine the demographic data and clinical features of ocular surface injuries due to thermal burns and to evaluate LSCD in the light of global consensus.

Methods: Thirty-three eyes of 20 cases with ocular surface injury due to thermal burn who attended to the clinic between 2012 and 2023 were included in the study. LSCD severity was staged according to the global consensus which was published in 2019.

Classification and treatment approach of chemical burn associated Limbal stem cell deficiency: based on novel global consensus.

Purpose: To evaluate the severity distribution of chemical burn-induced Limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) according to the novel global consensus classification and to compare the treatment approach, before and after the global consensus.

Methods: Medical records of 127 eyes of 109 patients with LSCD were included. LSCD stages were categorized according to the global consensus classification published by "International LSCD Working Group".

Development of Biomimetic Substrates for Limbal Epithelial Stem Cells Using Collagen-Based Films, Hyaluronic Acid, Immortalized Cells, and Macromolecular Crowding.

Despite the promising potential of cell-based therapies developed using tissue engineering techniques to treat a wide range of diseases, including limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD), which leads to corneal blindness, their commercialization remains constrained. This is primarily attributable to the limited cell sources, the use of non-standardizable, unscalable, and unsustainable techniques, and the extended manufacturing processes required to produce transplantable tissue-like surrogates. Herein, we present the first demonstration of the potential of a novel approach combining collagen films (CF), hyaluronic acid (HA), human telomerase-immortalized limbal epithelial stem cells (T-LESCs), and macromolecular crowding (MMC) to develop innovative biomimetic substrates for limbal epithelial stem cells (LESCs).

Alterations in corneal sensitivity according to age and gender in healthy population in Turkey.

Clinical Relevance: Knowing the changes in corneal sensitivity according to age and gender is important for the correct evaluation of pathologies.

Background: The aim of this work was to analyse variability of corneal sensitivity according to age and gender in the healthy population in Turkey.

Methods: Healthy volunteers between the ages of 20 and 84, who applied to outpatient clinic due to routine examination, were included.

Clinically correlated dose of the amniotic membrane extract is superior to its transplantation in corneal wound healing.

Purpose: This study investigates the superiority of sterile lyophilized amniotic membrane extract (AME) prepared at a clinically correlated dose over amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) in an experimental corneal wound model.

Methods: AME was prepared from a pool of five amniotic membranes. After homogenizing the membranes, they were lyophilized and sterilized by gamma radiation to obtain sterile, lyophilized AME powder.

Five years of emergency keratoplasty at a tertiary eye hospital.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to present the results of patients who underwent emergency keratoplasty for tectonic or therapeutic reasons.

Methods: Medical records of 33 patients who underwent tectonic or therapeutic keratoplasty at Ege University Department of Ophthalmology between January 2019 and January 2024 were retrospectively evaluated. Demographic characteristics, ocular and systemic findings, indications of keratoplasty, size of grafts, need for re-keratoplasty, preoperative treatment modalities, need for additional surgical interventions, and prognosis of the patients were investigated.

Pediatric limbal stem cell deficiency: An overview of a rarely studied pathology.

The cornea is the outermost transparent layer of the eye, and the continuous renewal of the corneal epithelium is important for its transparency. This process is primarily facilitated by corneal stem cells, most of which are found at the limbus. However, any deterioration or damage in this region leads to corneal conjunctivalization and consequent limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD), which compromises corneal transparency.