The collagen matrix in corneal pathology, and the effect of new therapies for loss of transparency and refractive status

角膜是眼睛前面的透明窗口，通过它我们可以看到彩色的虹膜和黑色的中央瞳孔。它主要由一种名为胶原蛋白的蛋白质组成，构成了坚韧的眼球外壳的一部分。大部分外壳是不透明的，颜色是白色的，但角膜已经进化为能够传输光线。显然，角膜的透明度对视力是绝对必要的，人们认为角膜之所以透明，不同于体内所有其他含有胶原的组织，是因为胶原的特殊大小和排列以及散布的细胞的特殊性质。我们提出的研究的目的之一是准确地发现胶原的排列和细胞的属性如何使角膜透明。然后，我们将研究某些治疗措施如何在失去透明度的地方恢复透明度。除了允许光线进入眼睛外，角膜还以一种特殊的方式弯曲，以帮助将传入的光线聚焦到视网膜上。同样，人们认为胶原组织的某些方面可能会影响这一曲率，并对角膜散光和角膜手术(包括新的屈光手术，如LASIK)后良好视力的恢复至关重要。这项研究将使用一系列技术进行，包括同步辐射x射线技术和几种高性能的显微镜方法。它将由加的夫的一个生物物理学家团队进行，但将有来自世界各地的许多科学家和临床医生参与。

The cornea is the transparent window at the front of the eye through which we see the coloured iris and black central pupil. It is made up mostly of a protein called collagen and forms part of the tough outer shell of the eye. Most of the outer shell is opaque and white in colour, but the cornea has evolved to transmit light. Evidently, the transparency of the cornea is absolutely essential for vision, and it is believed that the reason why the cornea, unlike all other collagen-containing tissues in the body, is transparent, is because of the special size and arrangement of the collagen and the special properties of the interspersed cells. One purpose of our proposed investigation is to discover precisely how the arrangement of the collagen and the properties of the cells allow the cornea to be transparent. We will then examine how certain treatments act to restore transparency where it has been lost. In addition to allowing light into the eye, the cornea is also curved in a special way to help focus the incoming light on the retina. Again, it is believed that aspects of the collagen organisation might influence this curvature and be important for corneal astigmatism and the recovery of good vision after corneal surgery (including new refractive surgeries such as LASIK). The research is to be carried out using a range of techniques, including synchrotron x-ray technology and several high powered microscopical methods. It will be carried out by a team of Biophysicists in Cardiff, but will involve a number of scientists and clinicians from around the world.