Abstract
Purpose::
To correlate anterior chamber OCT (AC OCT) and in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) images of filtering blebs after deep sclerectomy.
Methods::
We retrospectively evaluated 15 filtering blebs of 15 patients following deep sclerectomy. Ophtalmologic examinations included slit-lamp examination, applanation tonometry, IVCM and AC OCT analysis. Eyes were classified into three groups: functioning blebs (5 eyes), non functioning blebs (5 eyes) and functioning blebs after application of mitomycin C (5 eyes). Cellular patterns (IVCM), morphologic appearance (AC OCT) and functional aspects were correlated.
Results::
Functioning blebs had numerous intraepithelial microcysts and a widely spaced subepithelial connective tissue corresponding to the presence of sub conjunctival fluid collection and hyporeflective blebs on AC OCT images. Non functioning blebs had none or few intraepithelial microcysts with a dense subepithelial connective tissue corresponding to the hyperreflective blebs observed with AC OCT. Functioning blebs with mitomycin C had numerous microcysts and loosely arranged subepithelial connective tissue corresponding to the large hyporeflective blebs with multiple fluid collections covered by a thin layer of conjunctiva observed with AC OCT.
Conclusions::
IVCM findings were well correlated with AC OCT images. The resolution of ICVM was higher than that of AC OCT to analyse the bleb wall, but AC OCT could provide internal bleb morphology. Combining both techniques would be useful to study the surgical outcomes and the wound healing process after filtering surgery.
Keywords: conjunctiva • imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, SLO, ultrasound) • wound healing