In Vivo Confocal Evaluation of the Ocular Surface Morpho-Functional Unit in Dry Eye

Abstract

Laser scanning confocal microscopy can provide an in vivo, noninvasive, high-resolution overview of the ocular surface morpho-functional unit. This confocal integrated approach may be useful in both research and clinical settings.

Sjogren`s syndrome and ocular surface changes by laser-scanning in vivo confocal microscopy

“…This system integrated the tear film, lacrimal glands, cornea, conjunctiva, Meibomian glands, lids, and the sensory and motor nerves (10 Previous other confocal findings partly confirmed and led the hypothesis that changes on the epithelium and especially difference in cell density are consequential indicators for tissue damage (1,12). Other in vivo LSCM studies provided several partially validated parameters which included dendric cells (DCs), presumed leukocytes and activated keratocytes (9,11,12). In our study we encounter a significantly decreased number of basal epithelial cells, as well as a decreased number of stromal keratocytes.…”

“…They were presumed to be activated keratocytes. They were not histologically described, and could be interpreted in more than one way (1,9,12,19). These cells could be understood as normal stromal cells in which the light from the confocal microscope ray strikes at an unusual angle.…”

Effect of Autologous Serum Eye Drops in Patients with Sjögren Syndrome-related Dry Eye: Clinical and In Vivo Confocal Microscopy Evaluation of the Ocular Surface

“…In a previous study, we found that patients with DE disease of different etiologies showed improvement in both clinical signs and symptoms after therapy with AS eye drops (24).…”

“…This refers to hyper-reflective stromal cells with an elongated and dendritic appearance; the cell density was manually determined, and the results expressed as the number of cells/mm 2 (24).…”

Topical cyclosporine to control ocular surface disease in patients with chronic glaucoma after long-term usage of topical ocular hypotensive medications

“…5 The role of in vivo confocal microscopy in ocular surface analysis of dry eye and glaucomatous patients has been elucidated. 5,[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] Topical cyclosporine has been proven to have a beneficial effect in cases of dry eye disease (DED). 15 In a recent study in rabbit eyes beneficial effects of topical cyclosporine has been demonstrated on adverse ocular surface changes produced by long-term antiglaucoma medications.…”