Cyclosporin (CsA)is a potent immunosuppressive agent and is used for prevention of corneal graft rejection.In vitro effects of CsA on the cultured rabbit corneal endothelial cells and the rat corneal button were investigated. Rabbit corneal endothelial cells were cultured in the medium containing C s A (5 microgram/ml, 500ng/ml, 50ng/ml, or 5ng/ml)for 48hr.The incorporation of 3H-thymidine into cells was determined.Fresh corneal buttons were obtained from Lewis rats.Each button was divided into 4 quadrants and incubated in Optisol medium containing CsA, Cremophore (solvent of CsA), pred-nisolone 0.1 microgram/ml, or Optisol alone for 48hr.The above 4 different concen-trations of CsA were used in different corneal buttons.After incubation corneal buttons were stained with PAS and endothelial cells were stained with Alizarin red S.Results showed that thymidine counts were lower in these media containing CsA.Endothelial membrane was also disrupted in the media containing CsA > or=5 0 n g /ml.In conclusion, corneal medium contain-ing CsA may induce damage to the endothelium in vitro.
Animals ; Cyclosporine* ; Endothelial Cells* ; Endothelium ; Membranes ; Rats ; Thymidine ; Transplants

Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) is characterized by central serous retinal detachment. It occurs usually in young adult male, and bilateral involvement is uncommon. We have experienced bilateral CSC occurred in a 33 year old male patient with chronic tibial osteomyelitis. We treated only the right eye with krypton laser to compare the course of laser treated eye with untreated opposite eye. There was no difference between the course of two eyes in our case.
Adult ; Central Serous Chorioretinopathy* ; Humans ; Krypton ; Male ; Osteomyelitis* ; Retinal Detachment ; Young Adult

We evaluated corneal swelling induced by extended wear contact lenses(EWCLs) in New Zealand white rabbits domestically available in Korea. At first, we measured the corneal thickness prior to contact lens wearing with ultrasonic pachometer and examined the condition of the anterior segment of the eye. Then four soft EWCLs, one rigid gas permeable lens, and one disposable lens were applied on the corneas of the rabbits for 24 hours in closed eye condition achieved by transient tarsorrhapy. After 24 hours, the corneal thickness was remeasured and the condition of the external eye was reexamined to compare with the initial values. Conclusively, corneal swelling was developed after 24hour wearing of EWCLs in all rabbits. The percent corneal thickness changes decreased inthe following order; Ciba soft(Cooper Vision) 27.54%. Hyper II(International Contact Lens Lab.) 21.99%, Bescon III(International Contact Lens Lab.) 16.15%, Ciba thin(Cooper Vision) 14.22%, Optima FW(Bash and Lomb) 13.79%, Acuvue(Johnson and Johnson). The control group whitch did not wear any contact lens showed no change in the corneal thickness(p>0.05). The results of corneal swelling correlated well with the DK/L of each EWCLs. This experiment revealed that the EWCLs used widly in Korea could induce corneal swelling and so careful evaluation 0f the EWCLs wearers may be required.
Contact Lenses* ; Cornea ; Korea ; Rabbits ; Ultrasonics

PURPOSE: To conform the effectiveness of Cyclosporin(CsA) in penetrating keratoplasty(PKP), we compared the survival rate of grafts between CsA-used group and CsA-unused group(control group) in high risk patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: High risk cornea was defined as vascularization in 3 or 4 quadrants, recurrent graft or corneal surface disease. We reviewed the 74 eyes(74 patients) which received penetrating keratoplasty with high risk cornea, and compared the survival rate between CsA-used group and control group. RESULT: Twenty-nine of the 74 patients were treated with CsA(17 patients with topical CsA and 12 with oral CsA ). The survival rate of CsA-used group was not superior to that of control group. CONCLUSION: CsA seems not to be effective in graft survival of high risk PKP.
Cornea ; Cyclosporine* ; Graft Survival ; Humans ; Keratoplasty, Penetrating* ; Survival Rate ; Transplants

Ocular cicatricial pemphigoid isa chronic, progressive disease characterized by cicatricial shrinkage of the conjunctiva, entropion, trichiasis, xerosis, and finally reduced vision from corneal opacification. It is a relatively rare, autoimmune disease. In the early stages, it can be easily overlooked as simple chronic conjunctivitis, so it can be untreated. We report a case of ocular cicatricial pemphigoid that resulted in significant morbidity. We were able to control the progression of cicatrization with aggressive immunosuppressive therapy.
Autoimmune Diseases ; Cicatrix ; Conjunctiva ; Conjunctivitis ; Entropion ; Pemphigoid, Benign Mucous Membrane* ; Pemphigoid, Bullous ; Trichiasis ; Vision, Low

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) Is a cell-surface glycoprotein that may regulate leukocyte-endothelial adhesion, leukocyte migration into the tissues, and leukocyte trafficking with target cells during inflammation and immune responses. Expression of ICAM-1 have been observed in diseased cornea, and it has been reported that expression on corneal cells is increased in the presence of pro-inflammatory cytokines. We investigated expression of ICAM-1 by various cytokines on cultured rabbit keratocytes and effect of dexamethasone on cytokine-induced ICAM 1 expression, using an ELISA technique. Cultured rabbit keratocytes were incubated for 24hrs with INF-gamma 10ng/ml, TNF-alpha 10ng/ml IL-1beta 5ng/ml, TGF beta 5ng/ml, with or without 0.1micromiter Dexamethasone. Rabbit keratocytes treated with cytokine or dexamethasone were incubated with antral-ICAM-1 for 15 hours. Expression of ICAM-1 was measured with ELISA technique. As a result, expression of ICAM-1 was increased in rabbit keratocytes stimulated with INF-gamma, TNF-alpha, TGF-beta, not IL-1beta, and dexamethasone inhibited expression of ICAM-1 in cells stimulated with INF-gamma, TNF-alpha. This results are helpful to understand the role of ICAM-1 in the pathophysiology of inflammatory corneal diseases and the action mechanism of glucocorticosteroids. Further study about expression of ICAM-1 and their regulation & modulation may lead to new therapies in treating inflammatory corneal diseases.
Cornea ; Corneal Diseases ; Cytokines* ; Dexamethasone* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Glycoproteins ; Inflammation ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1* ; Leukocytes ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

A total of 80 cases undergone the routine phacoemulsification and the posterior chamber lens implantation under various topical anesthetics have been studied. The patients were divided into four groups from A to D and administered as follows : 4% lidocaine for 20 patients in group A, 4% lidocaine plus 0.5% proparacaine for 20 patients in group B, 0.1% diclofenac sodium plus 4% lidocaine for 20 patients in group C, 0.1% diclofenac sodium plus 0.5% proparacaine for 20 patients in group D. They were instilled into conjunctival sac at 20 minutes, 15 minutes, 10 minutes, 5 minutes and just before surgery. We also measured corneal thickness preoperatively, immediately after the operation, postoperative one week and observed corneal status during the operation and the pain score during surgery using a visual analogue scale. There was no statistical difference of corneal thickness among the groups. The pain score during surgery did not show any statistical significance. The topical anesthetics is a safe and convenient method for cataract surgery.
Anesthetics* ; Cataract ; Diclofenac ; Humans ; Lidocaine ; Phacoemulsification*

A heterologous corneal endothelial transplantation was attempted using human endothelial cells and a Lewis rat penetrating keratoplasty model. Cultured human endothelial cells were seeded to a Lewis rat cornea, which was denuded of its endothelium. When grafted into the syngeneic Lewis rat, the graft remained clear for at least five days, and then became opaque and edematous because of immune rejection reaction. In contrast, corneas denuded of their endothelium became opaque and edematous immediately after transplantation. These results demonstrate that transplanted endothelial cells have enough antigens to induce rejection reaction even though they have the functional capacity to deturge the cornea.
Animals ; Endothelium, Corneal/cytology/immunology/*transplantation ; Female ; Graft Rejection/*immunology ; Humans ; Major Histocompatibility Complex/immunology ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred Lew ; Transplantation, Heterologous

The visual acuity and intraocular pressure were measured and analyzed in 1641 healthy adults visiting AMC health care center. The visual acuity was measured irrespective of wearing glasses and contact lenses with autoacuitometer and we defined this visual acuity as everyday vision. The average everyday vision of better eye was 1.10 in males and 0.96 in females[converted with Han chart:0.95, 0.85; converted with Jin chart: 0.89, 0.78] between 20 and 69 years old. The average everyday vision in males was better than that of females[p<0.01]. The everyday vision was decreased in older subjects. The everyday vision of the subjects under 44 years of age was better than that of over 45 years of age[p<0.01]. The linear equation of the everyday vision according to age was Y=-0.0049X 1.30 in males[R=-0.77], Y=-0.0112X 1.43 in females[R=-0.88][X:age, Y:visual acuity, R:correlation coefficient]. In classification according to occupation, the visual acuity of housewives was low 0.89, but when matched to age &sex it was statistically insignificant. The average intraocular pressure was 13.25+/-2.57 mmHg in males, 12.85+/-2.45 mmHg in females. The IOP of the subjects under 44 years of age was not different from those over 45 years of age[male p=0.31, female p=0.20]. The number of subjects higher than 21 mmHg in intraocular pressure was 21[0.64%].
Adult* ; Aged ; Classification ; Contact Lenses ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Eyeglasses ; Female ; Glass ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure* ; Male ; Occupations ; Seoul* ; Visual Acuity*

The advantages of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) are its sensitivity and its accuracy in detecting and measuring immunoglobulin classes. By ELISA, the tear IgA level was measured in 165 healthy persons. Tears were collected by a strong absorbent (Weck Cel(R)). This is the first report of a tear IgA level in normal Koreans measured by ELISA. The mean level was 60.5 +/- 23.4 mg/dl. There was no statistically significant difference between the IgA level in the males (61.8 +/- 23.2 mg/dl) and that of the females (58.4 +/- 23.5 mg/dl)(p > 0.05). The difference between the tear IgA levels in the various age groups was not significant (p > 0.05).
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Child ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory/*analysis ; Male ; Methods ; Middle Aged ; Sex Factors ; Tears/*analysis