A new therapeutic alternative has been developed in the past 6 years to treat severe keratoconus in young patients. Those patients had only corneal transplantation as an option, but now a variety of surgical alternatives in the form of allogeneic corneal inclusions have bloomed and are becoming more popular. Although Bowman layer transplantation is the most studied technique, recent studies have described different options with very promising preliminary results. Mostly all the techniques described improve corneal curvature, visual acuity, pachymetry, contact lens tolerance, and foremost, manage to avoid or postpone corneal transplantation. Very few complications have been described so far, which makes these techniques not only feasible but also safe. Herein, we focus on reviewing recently published studies describing these techniques and their first results.

Pterygium is a common ophthalmic disease affecting humans only. Extensive epidemiological data have demonstrated a causative effect of chronic ultraviolet (UV) radiation on pterygia. Progress has been made in determining the origin of pterygia, their nasal predilection and wing‑shaped appearance, and the roles of UV radiation in the initiation and the development of pterygia. In the present review, the current understanding of the involvement of UV radiation in the pathogenesis of pterygia is summarized. This involvement includes the alteration of limbal stem cells and fibroblasts that contribute to the initiation of pterygia and the induction of various pro‑inflammatory cytokines, growth factors and matrix metalloproteinases that promote the progression of pterygia. Further elucidation of the roles of UV radiation in the pathogenesis of pterygia may help to encourage individuals at risk of developing pterygia to take preventive measures and aid researchers in the development of novel targeted therapeutic agents to treat pterygia.