title: Monitoring ocular disease by impression cytology.
abstract: The technique for obtaining and processing conjunctival impression cytology is described. The method of grading the stained samples is outlined. Our findings in various ocular conditions with particular emphasis on; alkali burns, uveitis, hypopyon ulcer and Botulinum toxin protective ptosis are shown. Cytology from severely damaged eyes is highly abnormal, improving as the ocular disease settles. In alkali burns a return to normal cytology does not correlate with return of corneal clarity. Loss of goblet cells is a common finding in the ocular diseases demonstrated, and appears to be a non-specific indicator of ocular problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, St. George's Hospital Medical School, London.
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Dilly
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Kirkness
mesh_terms: D000468:Alkalies / Q000009:adverse effects; D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000473:pathology; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000473:pathology*; D003231:Conjunctivitis / Q000473:pathology; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000473:pathology; D014605:Uveitis / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000468:Alkalies; D001905:Botulinum Toxins