[Correlation between birefringence and histopathologic figures of keratoconus and bullous keratopathy].
OBJECTIVE
We studied macroscopic pictures with polarizing filter and microscopic pictures of the corneas in keratoconus and bullous keratopathy.


METHODS
Among penetrating keratoplasty specimens referred to the National Defense Medical College, we investigated 16 keratoconus and 189 bullous keratopathy specimens. Macrophotographs with polarizing filter and light microscopic photographs (hematoxylene-eosin staining) were investigated. The hyperbolic polarizing pattern, stromal thickness of corneal specimens and number of fibroblast-like cells in the stroma were analyzed.


RESULTS
Hyperbolic polarizing patterns depended on the number of fibroblast-like cells in the stroma and the thickness of the stroma, but hyperbolic polarizing patterns had no relation with the epithelium or endothelium of the cornea.
Tamura
Sonoko
S
Department of Ophthalmology, National Defense Medical College, 3-2 Namiki, Tokorozawa 359-8513, Japan.
Okisaka
Shigekuni
S
Momose
Akira
A
Hatada
Toyohiko
T
D001718:Birefringence; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000473:pathology*; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D008859:Microscopy, Polarization