Figure 1

Laser Microdissection (LMD) of the ocular surface epithelial regions. The composite shows steps of LMD performed on radial cut section of LEC (A, B,), limbus (C, D), cornea (E, F), conjunctiva (G, H) and LEC stroma (I, J) at 20× magnification (scale bars shown). Figure 1A is of pre LMD LEC, shown with black arrow. Figure 1 I is of LEC stroma with cells shown with white arrow. Prior to LMD, the sections were stained with RNase free Toluidine Blue. Images (A, C, E, I,) are examples of pre LMD OS epithelial region sections with outlines for laser cuts drawn around the tissue. The junctions between the OS epithelial regions were avoided as it has overlapping features of the two adjacent regions. Image (G) shows cut sections of the epithelial regions. Dividing the epithelium into multiple small pieces facilitated effective catapulting of the tissue into the collection cap. Images (B, D, F, H, J) represent examples of post LMD sections of OS epithelium following pressure catapulting of the epithelial pieces. Image J shows a misdirected piece of LEC Stroma which was not captured in the cap but settled down over the adjacent LEC Stroma (black arrow head); such tissue pieces could be recatapulted into the cap with dot LPC laser function.