title: Anterior segment applications of in vivo confocal microscopy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the current literature on in vivo confocal microscopy anterior segment applications (cornea, conjunctiva, and glaucoma) and discuss its advantages in different pathological conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of selected relevant literature on in vivo confocal microscopy and its different applications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In vivo confocal microscopy can be used to visualize most layers of the cornea and conjunctiva, providing excellent resolution. In the past, it was mainly utilized as a research tool; lately there seems to be an increasing interest for clinical applications; confocal microscopy aids the diagnosis and follow-up of many anterior segment disorders, such as corneal dystrophies, corneal and conjunctival inflammatory and neoplastic diseases, glaucoma patients, and assessment of surgical procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In vivo confocal microscopy is an important addition to the ophthalmic diagnostic tools with several anterior segment applications. Its clinical applications are being continuously explored and are quickly expanding to cover many new pathological aspects.
authors.affiliation: Vardinoyannion Eye Institute of Crete (VEIC), Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete , Heraklion, Crete , Greece and.
authors.forename: George D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Kymionis
authors.forename: Vasilios F
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Diakonis
authors.forename: Mohammad M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Shehadeh
authors.forename: Aristofanis I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Pallikaris
authors.forename: Ioannis G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Pallikaris
mesh_terms: D000869:Anterior Eye Segment / Q000473:pathology*; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Clinical applications; confocal; corneal; corneal surgery; cytology; dystrophies; glaucoma; imaging; in vivo; keratitis; neoplasia; psuedoexfoliation