THE HUMAN CORNEA HAS A HIGH-INCIDENCE OF ACQUIRED CHROMOSOME-ABNORMALITIES

Structurally and functionally, the human cornea is a highly specialize d tissue. The corneal stromal collagen matrix is uniquely transparent and yet maintains a mechanically tough and chemically impermeable barr ier between the eye and environment. We report for the first time that stromal keratocytes of the human cornea show cytogenetic abnormalitie s with a frequency that is unprecedented among normal tissues. The abn ormalities are acquired, clonal and nonclonal, primarily aneuploid in nature, and present in normal as well as diseased corneas.