title: Specular microscopy in the identification of deep corneal opacities.
abstract: Specular microscopy provides a level of magnification and differentiation of detail which approaches that of a histological examination, and has the advantage of being a noninvasive procedure. This makes specular microscopy useful not only in examining the corneal endothelium, but also in identifying deep corneal opacities, which fall into two broad groups: 1) exogenous materials deposited in the cornea; and 2) endogenous pathologic corneal changes. Exogenous materials in the cornea have a wide variety of appearances, including the typical appearance of caterpillar hairs, the multifaceted appearance of glass foreign bodies, the regular geometric appearance of cholesterol crystals and cigar-shaped myeloma crystals or the more irregular deposits of chlorpromazine. Endogenous changes include ghost vessels, larger striate corneal nerves, fasciculi of fine parallel lines in keratoconus, criss-cross irregularly running lines in resolved keratitis, and a shagreen or cellophane-like appearance suggesting thickening of Descemet's membrane. While some deep corneal opacities are easily diagnosed clinically, the nature of others may be difficult to determine and specular microscopy is a valuable aid in such cases.
authors.affiliation: Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Gillies
mesh_terms: D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D003318:Corneal Opacity / Q000473:pathology*; D005129:Eye Foreign Bodies / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods*