title: Clinical corneal confocal microscopy.
abstract: Confocal microscopy allows non-invasive in vivo imaging of the ocular surface. Its unique physical properties enable microscopic examination of all layers of the cornea and have been used to investigate numerous corneal diseases: epithelial changes, numerous stromal degenerative or dystrophic diseases, endothelial pathologies, corneal deposits, infections, and traumatic lesions. It offers a new approach to study the physiological reactions of the cornea to different stimuli and the pathophysiologic events leading to corneal dysfunction in certain diseases. Confocal microscopy proves to be a powerful diagnostic tool and is especially of value in certain corneal diseases by allowing straightforward and non-invasive recognition of the pathologic conditions.
authors.affiliation: Louisiana State University Eye Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
authors.forename: Auguste G-Y
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Chiou
authors.forename: Stephen C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.forename: Herbert E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.forename: Roger W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Beuerman
mesh_terms: D003315:Cornea / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000473:pathology; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods*