خانم اعظم علوانی(MICROSCOPIC IMAGING OF CORNEA)

MICROSCOPIC IMAGING OF CORNEA

Noor Ophthalmology Research Center, Noor Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract: Corneal confocal microscopy is a powerful clinical technique for examining the corneal cellular structures. It provides images which are comparable to the results of in-vitro histochemical techniques characterizing corneal epithelium, Bowman’s layer, stroma, Descemet’s membrane, endothelium, and the corneal neural network. Because corneal confocal microscopy is a non invasive technique for in vivo assessment of the living cornea, it has an enormous clinical potential to investigate various corneal diseases. For example it has been used to diagnose and assessment of corneal dystrophies, corneal ectasia, and infectious conditions, for monitoring the contact lens induced corneal changes, and to evaluate post refractive surgery (PRK, LASIK, LASEK, Radial Keratotomy) and post penetrating keratoplasty alterations. The purpose of this manuscript is to describe the principles of corneal confocal microscopy, and its applications, and clinical use in different ocular and systemic diseases.