[Confocal microscopy in corneal dystrophies: a comparison between confocal slit scanning (ConfoScan P2) and laser scanning microscopy (Rostock Cornea Modul-HRT II)].
BACKGROUND
The object of this work was a comparison of confocal images of corneal dystrophies made by a slit scanning microscope versus a laser scanning microscope.


METHODS
Using the Rostock Cornea Modul-HRT II as a confocal laser scanning microscope the images of five patients with some epithelial, stromal and endothelial corneal dystrophies were acquired. The pictures were compared qualitatively with those taken by the slit scanning microscope "ConfoScan P2" from corresponding pathologies. Also, the images of normal corneas of ten healthy persons were acquired for a qualitative comparison.


RESULTS
Confocal images from both devices were able to provide significant helpful diagnostic findings about the corneal microstructure. Essential qualitative differences between the images of both devices used were not observed. Due to the additional hardware components and the software module for image acquisition, analysis and archiving, the RCM-HRT II is favoured over the "ConfoScan P2". Nevertheless, the evaluation in favour of the RCM-HRT II has to be confined because an optimised, user-friendly enhancement, the "ConfoScan 4" is currently available.


CONCLUSIONS
Evaluating corneal dystrophies in vivo, an equivalent utility of both technical approaches has been observed.
Bailly
N
N
Charité--Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Augenklinik, 13353 Berlin. natalie.bailly@charite.de
Sherif
Z A
ZA
Pleyer
U
U
Rieck
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003317:Corneal Dystrophies, Hereditary / Q000473:pathology*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D019721:Ophthalmoscopes; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity