Use of In Vivo Confocal Microscopy to Understand the Pathology of Accidental Ocular Irritation

Abstract

In vivo confocal microscopy (CM) provides a unique ability to section optically through living, intact tissues and organs to characterize qualitatively and quantitatively pathological changes in 4 dimensions (x, y, and z, and time). It

Quantitative Characterization of Acid- and Alkali-Induced Corneal Injury in the Low-Volume Eye Test

“…Damage caused by 2% NaOH, on the other hand, denuded the epithelium in some regions of the cornea and on oc-casion injured a few very superficial keratocytes. That in vivo CM or live/dead staining detected minimal injury to the underlying keratocytes is similar to what is noted with very mildly irritating surfactants (18,19). Ten-percent acetic acid injured the corneal epithelium, as characterized by denudation, and produced readily detectable damage to the underlying stromal cells, as revealed by in vivo CM and live/dead staining, results that are consistent with those associated with mildly irritating surfactants (18,19).…”

New Tools for the Evaluation of Toxic Ocular Surface Changes in the Rat

“…Toxic effects on the cornea have already been evaluated by pachymetry, 12 tonometry, 13 electrophysiology, 14 corneal permeability, and in vivo confocal microscopy. [15][16][17][18][19][20] Evaluating a single parameter even in an in vivo model may not precisely reflect the complexity of the mechanisms involved in chronic use of toxic compounds, especially when used at low concentrations. Few toxicological studies have focused on the assessment of the entire ocular surface system-the cornea, the conjunctiva, and the tear film-although toxicological processes involve not only the cornea but all components.…”

In vivo non-linear optical (NLO) imaging in live rabbit eyes using the Heidelberg Two-Photon Laser Ophthalmoscope

“…Confocal microscopic examination of living tissue has been used to obtain live cellular images from selected tissues including kidney, liver, thyroid, muscle and connective tissue of rabbit and rats (Jester, et al, 1991; Petroll, et al, 1994; Petroll, et al, 1996), and has been used as a powerful methodology for examining the cornea (Li, et al, 1997) and evaluating corneal wound healing following excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (Cavanagh, et al, 1993; Chang, et al, 1999; Maurer, et al, 1999). Here we report the first application of cornea-specific in vivo Two-Photon Laser Ophthalmoscope that provides high resolution TPEF images of labeled RCF injected into living rabbit corneal stroma.…”