Reply
We thank Dr Kocatürk and associates for their thoughtful correspondence regarding our manuscript. First, inflammation plays a critical role in the development of corneal neovascularization; therefore, inflammation received careful consideration in the development of our clinical study. Because we utilized a clinic-based population, it was not possible to standardize baseline levels of ocular surface inflammation. Most of the study patients were on one or more medications that could directly or indirectly affect ocular surface inflammation. In order to minimize the potential confounding effects of inflammation, only patients with clinically stable corneal neovascularization were considered for inclusion. Additionally, we excluded patients (Read more...)