title: Characterization of fibrous retrocorneal membrane by confocal microscopy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the appearance of a fibrous retrocorneal membrane as seen by confocal microscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 67-year-old white woman with a history of multiple ocular surgeries, including repeated penetrating keratoplasties for aphakic bullous keratopathy, developed a retrocorneal membrane in the right eye. The membrane was first noticed 3 years after the last corneal transplant and remained stable subsequently. The patient was examined by in vivo white light tandem-scanning confocal microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the level of the retrocorneal membrane, confocal microscopy disclosed the presence of a hyperreflective fibrous-appearing layer. Normal endothelial cells could not be found. Anterior to the hyperreflective layer, activated keratocytes were identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Confocal microscopy may allow noninvasive diagnosis of fibrous retrocorneal membrane. Additionally, our data suggest that the posterior keratocytes might play a role in the production and deposition of fibrous tissue.
authors.affiliation: Louisiana State University Eye Center, New Orleans 70112-2234, USA.
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Chiou
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maitchouk
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Beuerman
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Kaufman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D008566:Membranes / Q000473:pathology; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D012086:Reoperation; D014792:Visual Acuity