What is it about?
Cornea scarring involved transformation of the corneal keratocytes to activated fibroblasts to myofibroblasts. The myofibroblasts have contractile properties and can secrete elastin and collagen. These are not regularly deposited like the normal corneal lamellae, so will destroy the transparency of the cornea and form a scar. In some countries, corneal scarring due to vitamin A deficiency or chlamydial infection is the top cause of blindness. In developed countries, scarring can still happen after chemical injury, corneal surgery, trauma, and severe ocular surface disease. This review looks at the evidence for anti-scarring modalities.
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Why is it important?
There is still no effective treatment for scarrring. Most of the current treatment relies on handling the inflammation in various diseases, since the scarring occurs as a post inflammatory sequalae.
Perspectives
Reduction of corneal scarring is also important in refractive procedures. This safety aspect is important because such patients usually do not have any visual disability prior to surgery and only want to be spectacle free. A loss of best corrected vision from scarring will be very unfortunate.
Prof Louis Tong
National University of Singapore
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Systematic Review on Therapeutic Strategies to Minimize Corneal Stromal Scarring After Injury, Eye & Contact Lens Science & Clinical Practice, February 2019, Wolters Kluwer Health,
DOI: 10.1097/icl.0000000000000584.
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