Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe the morphologic findings observed, by in vivo confocal microscopy, in patients with blepharitis. Methods: Confocal microscopy was performed on the palpebral conjunctiva of three patients with a clinical diagnosis of blepharitis as well as the eyelids of two control patients without blepharitis. The images obtained were specifically examined for the presence of inflammatory cells, bacteria, and appearance of the meibomian glands. Results: Inflammatory cells were seen migrating from blood vessels in the substantia propria of the eyelids in all three patients with blepharitis. No inflammatory cells were seen in the normal control. Conclusions: Confocal microscopy identified inflammatory cells within the tissue of patients with blepharitis and thus may permit a new form of diagnosis, evaluation and assessment of the disease process.
Keywords: microscopy: confocal/tunneling • inflammation • conjunctiva