title: In vivo imaging of corneal inflammation: new tools for clinical practice and research.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Infectious and inflammatory corneal diseases are a major cause of blindness. To date, assessment of corneal inflammation, has only been possible by slit-lamp biomicroscopy. The purpose of this study is to review the current state of imaging technologies enabling in vivo imaging of inflammation in the cornea.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature review of peer-reviewed articles on in vivo imaging modalities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Current means of diagnosis and treatment follow-up for immune and infectious keratitis are limited to slit-lamp biomicroscopy. Several modalities are currently emerging, allowing for in vivo imaging of corneal inflammation, including in vivo confocal microscopy, anterior segment optical coherence tomography, and intravital multiphoton microscopy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several in vivo imaging technologies are currently evolving, allowing for objective assessment of corneal inflammation and treatment response.
authors.affiliation: Cornea Service & Ocular Surface Imaging Center, Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Dimosthenis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mantopoulos
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cruzat
authors.forename: Pedram
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hamrah
mesh_terms: D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D036641:Microscopy, Fluorescence, Multiphoton; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence