AIM: To review the characteristics, complications, and epidemiology of perforating eye injury treated at a referral eye centre in Tehran, over one year, ·METHODS: The medical records of 959 patients hospitalized in Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran, due to ocular trauma in 2002 were studied. Information recorded included demographic information (age, sex, and occupation), offending agent, type of trauma, initial visual acuity, location where trauma occurred, accompanying signs and symptoms, and types of treatment provided. ·RESULTS: Mean age of patients was (22.6±16.4) years with a peak age of 21-25 years in males and under 5 years in females. The ratio of male to female was 4.2:1.62.4% of patients had penetrating trauma, 33.9% had blunt trauma, and 3.7% had mixed or chemical trauma. Metallic agents were the most common cause of penetrating ocular trauma, while stone was the most common blunt counterpart. Foreign bodies were observed in 23.4% of cases. Cornea was the most com-mon site of rupture (46.7%). ·CONCLUSION: Based on this study, penetrating trauma is more common than blunt trauma. Younger individuals are more prone to ocular trauma. Cornea is the most common site of injury.

· AIM: We describe visual improvement after phacoemulsification with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in 7 eyes with anterior lenticonus secondary to Alport syndrome.· METHODS: 7 eyes from 4 patients with Alport syndrome underwent phacoemulsification with IOL implantation due to anterior lenticonus.· RESULTS: All of the patients resumed excellent visual acuity after surgery.· CONCLUSION: We recommend the phacoemulsification with IOL implantation as a safe procedure in anterior lenticonus due to Alport syndrome.

AIM: To evaluate the clinical success of living related conjunctival limbal and amniotic membrane transplantation for treatment of chemical injury induced limbal stem cell deficiency.METHODS: From July 2005 to December 2007, 10 eyes of 9 male patients with chemical injury induced limbal stem cell deficiency were included in the study. All subjects underwent living related conjunctival limbal and amniotic membrane transplantation. Blepharorrhaphy was performed in two cases. Systemic immunosuppression with cyclosporine and prednisolone was initiated.RESULTS: Complete corneal epithelialization was observed in 3 eyes (30%). In one of the patients immunologic rejection and corneal melting led to perforation 1.5 months after surgery. The increasing dose of systemic immunosuppression was used to control it. Three eyes were described as primary failure because graft could not re-epithelialize the corneal surface. The remained four eyes showed partial re-epithelialization, but failed to cover the entire corneal surface with epithelium. Best corrected visual acuity ranged from hand movement to counting finger at 1 meter before the surgery and after the surgery was light perception to 20/80. Five eyes had visual improvement without any additional procedure. Dry eye and persistent inflammation were known as main causes of failure.CONCLUSION: Living related conjunctival limbal allograft and amniotic membrane transplantation can be a good option in the management of limbal stem cell deficiency in selected cases in which tear production and control of ocular inflammation are adequate.