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Corneal collagen—its role in maintaining corneal shape and transparency

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Abstract

Corneal collagen has a number of properties that allow it to fulfil its role as the main structural component within the tissue. Fibrils are narrow, uniform in diameter and precisely organised. These properties are vital to maintain transparency and to provide the biomechanical prerequisites necessary to sustain shape and provide strength. This review describes the structure and arrangement of corneal collagen from the nanoscopic to the macroscopic level, and how this relates to the maintenance of the form and transparency of the cornea.

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Acknowledgements

The corneal research programme at Cardiff University is supported by the MRC, BBSRC, EPSRC, STFC and ESRF. Keith Meek is a Royal Society/Wolfson Merit Award holder. The author thanks Dr. C. Boote for helpful comments on the manuscript.

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  1. Structural Biophysics Research Group, School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4LU, UK

    Keith M. Meek

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  1. Keith M. Meek
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Correspondence to Keith M. Meek.

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Meek, K.M. Corneal collagen—its role in maintaining corneal shape and transparency. Biophys Rev 1, 83–93 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12551-009-0011-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12551-009-0011-x

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