Confocal Microscopy of Corneal Dystrophies

Overview

Journal Semin Ophthalmol

Publisher Informa Healthcare

Specialty Ophthalmology

Date 2012 Nov 21

PMID 23163262

Citations 13

Authors

Anita N Shukla

Andrea Cruzat

Pedram Hamrah

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

In vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) of the cornea is becoming an indispensable tool in the cellular study of corneal physiology and disease. This technique offers non-invasive imaging of the living cornea with images comparable to that of ex vivo histology. The ability to provide high-resolution images of all layers in the living cornea has resulted in new discoveries of corneal pathology at the cellular level. The IVCM analysis of corneal dystrophies is of importance to clinicians, as current methods of diagnosis involve slit-lamp characteristics, genetic analysis, and invasive biopsy. IVCM is helpful in evaluating the morphological characteristics of corneal dystrophies at the histological level and may be helpful in diagnosis, determination of progression, and understanding the pathophysiology of disease. The purpose of this review is to describe the principles, applications, and clinical correlation of IVCM in the study of corneal dystrophies.

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