Abstract
The alterations in the conjunctival epithelium during the course of vernal conjunctivitis were examined by conjunctival impression cytology. The study was carried out on 53 patients with vernal conjunctivitis and 20 normal subjects as control. The results of impression cytology demonstrated that all cytological parameters were significantly modified in vernal conjunctivitis patients; the earliest alterations were found in the distribution of goblet cells, in the intercellular junctions, in the chromatin morphology and in the degree of keratinisation. The morphometric comparison showed that in vernal conjunctivitis patients the mean number of goblet cells per field was significantly higher than in controls. Moreover the mean diameter of goblet cells was smaller in patients than in controls. Impression cytology can, therefore, be a simple, non-invasive and cheap method for the study of the ocular surface in vernal conjunctivitis.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Duke Elder S . System of ophthalmology, vol VIII, Diseases of the outer eye, part 1. London: Henry Kimpton, 1965: 475–93.
Allansmith MR . The eye and immunology, part II. St Louis: CV Mosby, 1982: 118–24.
Buckley RJ . Vernal keratoconjunctivitis. Int Ophthalmol Clin 1988; 303–8.
Trombetta C, Aragona P, Candela V, Scullica MG, Arena F, Tuccari G . Studio della componente mucosa della secrezione lacrimale nella congiuntivite primaverile e nella intolleranza aile lenti a contatto. Soc Oftalmol Lombarda 1986; 41: 163–8.
Nelson D, Havener VR, Cameron JD . Cellulose acetate impressions of the ocular surface. Arch Ophthalmol 1983; 101: 1869–72.
Tseng SGC . Staging of conjunctival squamous metaplasia by impression cytology. Ophthalmology 1985; 96: 728–33.
Goetz ML, Jaeger W, Kruse FE . Die Impressiozytologie als nicht invasive Methode der Bindehaut-biopsie und ihre Ergebnisse. Klin Monatsbl Augenheilkd 1986; 188: 23–8.
Gill GW, Frost JK, Miller KA . A new formula for a half-oxidized hematoxylin solution that neither over-stains nor requires differentiation. Acta Cytol 1974; 18: 300–11.
Aragona P, Candela V, Scullica L . A new method of evaluation of conjunctival alterations with impression cytology. In: Miglior M, van Bijsterfeld P, Spinelli D, editors. The lacrimal system. Kuglers-Ghedini, 1992: 117–21.
Moodley LCM, Aragona P, Garner A, Buckley RG . Conjunctival changes in contact lens wear evaluated by impression cytology. In: XVII Congress Européen de Contactologie Médicale, Grenoble, 1987.
Aragona P, Candela V, Scullica L . Chemical and histochemical evaluation of tear mucus variation in clinical and experimental conditions. In: Miglior M, Spinelli D, Fabbri G, editors. The lacrimal system. Kuglers-Ghedini, 1988: 121–4.
Candela V, Castagna I, Aragona P, Villari D . I processi di cheratinizzazione dell'epitelio corneo-congiuntivale. Boll Ocul 1990; (Suppl I): 161–3.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Aragona, P., Romeo, G., Puzzolo, D. et al. Impression cytology of the conjunctival epithelium in patients with vernal conjunctivitis. Eye 10, 82–85 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.1996.12
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.1996.12
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
Context-Dependent Regulation of Conjunctival Goblet Cell Function by Allergic Mediators
Scientific Reports (2018)
-
Ocular surface mucins and local inflammation—studies in genetically modified mouse lines
BMC Ophthalmology (2015)
-
4A syndrome: ocular surface investigation in an Italian young patient
BMC Ophthalmology (2014)
-
Efficacy of topical cyclosporin A 0.05% in conjunctival impression cytology specimens and clinical findings of severe vernal keratoconjunctivitis in children
Japanese Journal of Ophthalmology (2008)
-
Morphological changes of the conjunctival epithelium in contact lens wearers evaluated by impression cytology
Eye (1998)