Abstract
Purpose:
To report normal variations of the human limbal structures using in vivo laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM).
Methods:
Fourteen eyes from 13 healthy individuals between the ages of 22 to 94 years were included in this study. Confocal imaging of the cornea and limbus was performed using Heidelberg Retina Tomograph III Rostock Corneal Module.
Results:
The typical structure of the palisade of Vogt (POV) was detected in 57% of eyes. Four additional structures and patterns were found in the normal limbus that had not been reported previously in eyes that did not have the POV. Whorl-like distribution of limbal epithelial cells was present in two eyes. Mixed corneal and conjunctival epithelial cells in a mosaic pattern were found at the posterior limbus in two eyes. Bright dots pattern within the normal limbal epithelial cells was observed in the wing and the basal layer in five eyes. The forth structure, “limbal lacuna” was detected in two of the subjects. It consisted of deep stromal lacuna filled with limbal epithelial cells.
Conclusions:
There are several structures variants in the normal limbus. POV may not be the only structure that harbors limbal stem/progenitor cells.
Keywords: 721 stem cells •
550 imaging/image analysis: clinical •
482 cornea: epithelium