Analyzing ocular surface cells can be useful in investigating the effect of contact lenses, lens care systems and topical therapeutics on the surface of the eye, in addition to learning more about ocular pathology. Conventional, invasive methods of collecting epithelial cells from the ocular surface are yield only small samples, restricting quality of analysis, and often result in surface staining. The Ocular Surface Cell Collection Apparatus (OSCCA) was designed to irrigates the ocular surface with a stream of warm saline, and is able to collect significantly more cells with less surface damage.
More about the OSCCA:
Gorbet M, Peterson R, McCanna D, Woods C, Jones L, Fonn D. Human corneal epithelial cell shedding and fluorescein staining in response to silicone hydrogel lenses and contact lens disinfecting solutions. Curr Eye Res. 2014;39(3): 245-56.
Peterson RC, Gorbet M, Cira D, Amos C, Woods CA, Fonn D. Non-invasive collection and examination of human corneal epithelial cells. Optom Vis Sci. 2011;88(11):1317-25.