PURPOSE: The human corneal epithelium is usually described as a 50-μm-thick layer of regular stratified squamous non-keratinized cells with a thickness of 5-7 cells. The purpose of this study is systemically to revisit the histopathological appearance of 100 corneas. METHODS: 5-μm-thick sections of corneas from 100 consecutively selected paraffin-embedded eyes were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS). All specimens were evaluated by light microscopy. The eyes were enucleated from patients with choroidal melanoma. Corneas were considered to be normal. RESULTS: Ninety of 100 eyes were evaluated. The central epithelial, stromal and total corneal thickness was measured as 36.0 μm, 618 μm and 651μm, respectively, with a variation coefficient from 0.21 to 0.22. Pathological appearances were found in 27% of corneas, including thickened basement membrane and alterations in Bowman's membrane. No intraepithelial microcysts, as found in Meesmann corneal dystrophy, were observed. CONCLUSION: The total corneal thickness was higher than reported in in vivo studies and with a wider variation. This may be an effect of uncontrolled swelling and dehydration during preparation. The high number of pathological observations suggests that 'normal' eyes harbour and potentially accumulate considerable pathology.
PURPOSE: The human corneal epithelium is usually described as a 50-μm-thick layer of regular stratified squamous non-keratinized cells with a thickness of 5-7 cells. The purpose of this study is systemically to revisit the histopathological appearance of 100 corneas. METHODS: 5-μm-thick sections of corneas from 100 consecutively selected paraffin-embedded eyes were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS). All specimens were evaluated by light microscopy. The eyes were enucleated from patients with choroidal melanoma. Corneas were considered to be normal. RESULTS: Ninety of 100 eyes were evaluated. The central epithelial, stromal and total corneal thickness was measured as 36.0 μm, 618 μm and 651μm, respectively, with a variation coefficient from 0.21 to 0.22. Pathological appearances were found in 27% of corneas, including thickened basement membrane and alterations in Bowman's membrane. No intraepithelial microcysts, as found in Meesmann corneal dystrophy, were observed. CONCLUSION: The total corneal thickness was higher than reported in in vivo studies and with a wider variation. This may be an effect of uncontrolled swelling and dehydration during preparation. The high number of pathological observations suggests that 'normal' eyes harbour and potentially accumulate considerable pathology.
Authors: Sandro Sbordone; Alfonso Savastano; Maria Cristina Savastano; Vito Romano; Mario Bifani; Silvio Savastano Journal: Case Rep Ophthalmol Date: 2013-08-15
Authors: Adrian Gericke; Xiaohong Wang; Maximilian Ackermann; Meik Neufurth; Matthias Wiens; Heinz C Schröder; Norbert Pfeiffer; Werner E G Müller Journal: RSC Adv Date: 2019-07-22 Impact factor: 4.036
Authors: Yoon-Ju Na; Kyoung Jin Choi; Won Hoon Jung; Sung Bum Park; Sein Kang; Jin Hee Ahn; Ki Young Kim Journal: Int J Mol Sci Date: 2020-05-25 Impact factor: 5.923