Imaging the Microstructural Abnormalities of Meesmann Corneal Dystrophy by in Vivo Confocal Microscopy

Purpose: To delineate the microstructural features of Meesmann corneal dystrophy using in vivo confocal microscopy.

Method: Three subjects with clinically diagnosed Meesmann corneal dystrophy were examined by slit-lamp biomicroscopy and slit-scanning in vivo confocal microscopy.

Results: On slit-lamp biomicroscopy, all subjects demonstrated large bilateral multiple epithelial cystic lesions extending to the midperiphery. On in vivo confocal microscopy, these lesions appeared as hyporeflective areas in the basal epithelial layer. The majority were circular, oval or teardrop shaped and ranged between 48 mum and 145 mum in diameter. Large elongated intraepithelial clefts were also seen. Reflective spots were visible within most of the lesions and these may represent the fibrillogranular material (termed peculiar substance) and tonofilament bundles observed in electron microscopy studies. An additional finding was the fragmented appearance of the subbasal nerve plexus.

Conclusion: We present the first case series of Meesmann corneal dystrophy imaged by in vivo confocal microscopy and describe the associated microstructural features. Delineation of these features facilitates the use of the confocal microscope to aid diagnosis and management of corneal dystrophies.