title: Histopathology Findings of Corneal Buttons in Congenital Aniridia Patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the corneal button of primary penetrating keratoplasty of patients diagnosed with congenital aniridia. The study took place at the Instituto Universitario Barraquer and the Centro de Oftalmología Barraquer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of cases diagnosed with congenital aniridia was carried out. We analyzed 13 corneal buttons of 11 eyes with congenital aniridia. We only included those patients who underwent penetrating keratoplasty for the first time. The corneal buttons were analyzed for histological characteristics of the presence of vascularization, the presence or not of Bowman's layer, the thickness of the stroma and Descemet's membrane, and endothelium layer alterations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found alterations in the epithelium and stroma in all patients, although this loss of architecture was not seen in Descemet's membrane and the endothelial population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with advanced congenital aniridic keratopathy may be good candidates for deep or superficial anterior lamellar keratoplasty for the preservation of normal endothelium and Descemet's membrane, along with limbal stem cell transplantation, to address epithelial and stromal pathology.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Universitario Barraquer, Universitat Autònima de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria Montserrat
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Bausili
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alvarez de Toledo
authors.forename: Rafael I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Barraquer
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Michael
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tresserra
authors.forename: Maria Fideliz
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: de la Paz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015783:Aniridia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002452:Cell Count; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003886:Descemet Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014792:Visual Acuity; D055815:Young Adult