In vivo three-dimensional confocal laser scanning microscopy of corneal surface and epithelium

Abstract

3-D CLSM permits in vivo visualisation and analysis of the corneal surface and of spatial arrangement at the cellular level in epithelium in normal and pathological corneas. The novel design of the contact cap minimises artefacts due to applanation pressure and improves the image quality of epithelial structures. The method provides a basis for further in vivo studies of alterations to corneal surface structure and its cellular arrangement.

Corneal Surface and Superficial Cells as Viewed by Scanning Electron Microscopy and Impression Cytology Sampling

“…In confocal microscopy, however, a fairly large proportion of the cells (which are usually larger and have brighter reflexes) do appear to be lying on top of a background of less reflective cells that are less well resolved in detail and have medium or darker reflectivity. 8,[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] Stated another way, some cells can be seen to be in a slightly different plane as the first cells that are visualized, that is, very slightly raised above other cells, indicating that these cells are lying right on top of the epithelial surface. The IC sampling also indicates the same because, by default, the nonoverlapping cells in a monolayer have to be right at the epithelial surface.…”

“…In marked contrast, other coronal imaging techniques have revealed a contiguous mosaic of polygonal shapes (with a large range of sizes) but having lighter, medium, or darker appearances as viewed by specular microscopy, 11-15 by confocal microscopy, 8,[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] or by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). [24][25][26][27][28] It has been proposed that the larger dark reflex cells seen in SEM are those terminally differentiated "hypermature" cells in the final stages before desquamation.…”

Modelos predictivos de morfometría corneal a partir de la ametropía a tratar con láser excímer

“…Un incremento de 10 m de grosor epitelial resulta en una dioptría de regresión, factores mecá-nicos y terapéuticos controlan la hiperplasia epitelial 19 . Las modificaciones del epitelio corneal juegan un rol en el resultado refractivo final; sin embargo, se han producido cambios refractivos entre el mes y el año, cuando ya el grosor epitelial se encuentra estabilizado, por lo que pudiera pensarse que en la regresión miópica no solo influyen los cambios epiteliales [20][21][22][23] .…”

“…(Cuantitativa continua): Definido como células gigantes en la población endotelial. Se considera polimegatismo cuando el diámetro celular es mayor que el doble de la célula endotelial normal (20 ). Expresado en porcentaje.…”

Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infectious Keratitis in a High Oxygen Transmissible Rigid Contact Lens Rabbit Model

“…A custom-designed polished PMMA washer (1.2-cm outer diameter, 2-mm inner diameter, 200-lm thick) was placed on the Tomocap (Heidelberg, Germany) to eliminate the reflections that can interfere with superficial epithelial imaging. 24,26 Genteal Gel (Alcon Laboratories) was used to couple the applanating tip to the cornea. Image acquisition was performed as previously described.…”