2.2. Sample collection
Both eyes of the patients diagnosed with AC were screened, and the eye
with severer symptoms was sampled for sequencing. The conjunctival
impression samples were collected and stored using a previously
described protocol.10,12 Briefly, a sterile semicircle
MF membrane filter (REF: HAWP01300, 0.45 lm in diameter; Merck
Millipore, Burlington, MA, USA) was placed on the inferior bulbar
conjunctiva for 10 seconds. The membrane was then immediately placed in
a sterile tube with 300 µl of Tissue and Cell Lysis Solution (Epicentre,
Ambleside, UK) and stored at -80℃.