Abstract
Purpose::
To compare corneal tissue imaging with the new in vivo HRT II with the Rostock Cornea Module ( Heidelberg Engineering GmbH, Dossenheim, Germany) to traditional in vivo confocal microscopy (CONFUSCAN 2 , Nidek Technologies,Inc. Greensboro NC) and to examine the distribuition of Langherans cells in the corneal epithelium.
Methods::
In this study, 20 eyes of 10 patients (mean age 23, 7 female and 3 male) were investigated. After a general ophthalmic assessment , the central part of the cornea was examined with the two different in vivo confocal microscopes by the same operators in the same day. Morphology of each corneal layer (Epithelium and Langherans cells, Bowmann’s membrane, stroma, Descemet’s membrane and endothelium) was analysed. Images obtained consisted of two-dimensional optical sections oriented parallel to the surface of the eye.
Results::
The images obtained with in vivo HRT II with the Rostock Cornea Module clearly showed the cellular structures of each layer. In particular the presence of Langherans cell both in the central and peripheral part of the cornea was found in 30% of the patient. Compared to CONFUSCAN 2, the HRT II with the Rostock Cornea Module seems to produce similar images with a sharper and brighter appearance.
Conclusions::
The HRT II with the Rostock Cornea Module seems to facilitate the study of corneal cells, providing images with a promising definition for the study of corneal disorders. Imaging of the corneal layers with HRT II with the Rostock Cornea Module seems to give better qualitative results with respect to CONFOSCAN 2. The presence of Langherans cells was assessed with both microscopes.
Keywords: cornea: epithelium