PURPOSE: To analyze by impression cytology the presence of goblet cells on corneal surfaces with conjunctivalization. METHODS: Corneal-conjunctival impression cytology was performed in 65 eyes of 65 patients who had clinical signs of conjunctivalization with or without previous ocular surgery. Patients were classified into two groups according to previous history of ocular surface reconstructive surgery associated with limbal transplantation and human amniotic membrane. In group I, 49 patients without previous ocular surgery were evaluated and in group II 16 patients were included after ocular surface reconstructive surgery with conjunctivalization recurrence. Samples were obtained in the affected eye between February 2000 and February 2002 at the UNIFESP's External Eye Disease Laboratory. Limbal deficiency was detected when one or more goblets cells were found on the corneal surface. RESULTS: In group I one or more goblet cells were found on the corneal surface of 21 eyes (42.85%). In group II goblet cells were found on the corneal surface of 9 patients (56.25%). CONCLUSION: Presence of goblet cells on the corneal surface detected by impression cytology in patients with conjunctivalization can confirm limbal stem cell deficiency, however, its absence does not exclude the diagnosis.
Limbus corneae; Conjunctiva; Goblet cells; Epithelial cells; Cytological techniques; Diagnostic techniques opthalmological
