Focal limbal stem cell deficiency corresponding to an iris coloboma
- Ocular Surface Center and Ocular Surface Research and Education Foundation, Miami, Florida, USA
- Correspondence to: Scheffer C G Tseng, MD, PhD, Ocular Surface Center and Ocular Surface Research and Education Foundation, 8780 SW 92 Street, Suite 203, Miami, FL 33176, USA; stseng{at}ocularsurface.com
- Accepted 8 June 2002
When the stem cells population is destroyed or their supporting stromal environment is dysfunctional, limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) manifests. Clinically, LSCD carries the hallmark of conjunctivalisation—that is, the corneal surface is covered by ingrowing conjunctival epithelium containing goblet cells. Conjunctivalisation is invariably associated with the destruction of the basement membrane, emergence of superficial neovascularisation, scarring, and diminished visual acuity.1–4
Corneal diseases associated with LSCD can be subdivided into two major categories.4 In the first category, limbal epithelial stem cells have been previously destroyed by a known or recognisable insult. The second category is characterised by a gradual loss of the stem cell population without a known or identifiable factor. In this second category, the limbal stromal environment, so called niche, is presumably affected progressively by different aetiologies including aniridia.5 Although iris coloboma has been noted to be associated with corneal surface abnormalities,6,7 no report …
