Artikel
In-vivo examination of Fluorescein staining of the human cornea by confocal laser-Scanning fluorescence microscopy
Suche in Medline nach
Autoren
Veröffentlicht: | 22. September 2004 |
---|
Gliederung
Text
Objective
Vital staining with fluorescein is a common method in ophthalmology to distinguish and estimate corneal deseases. Permeability and cellular staining pattern of this dye are described in numerous studies before. It would be usefull to examine whether these findings are conferable to the in-vivo situation or not and to contemplate cellular structures of human corneas in patients after staining with fluorescein.
Methods
A Heidelberg Retina Angiograph (HRA Classic, Heidelberg Engineering, Germany) as used for digital fluorescein angiography of the retina was modified with the Rostock-Cornea-Module (RCM) to submit confocal in-vivo fluorescence microscopy of the corneal epithelium with exact depth measurement. Images were taken before and after topic application of Fluoreszein SE Thilo eye drops in healthy volunteers and in patients with corneal lesions or diabetes.
Results
With this method we could obtain autofluorescence images of cellular epithelial structures and fluorescence images after staining with fluorescein. In particular in corneal lesions there was an accummulation of the dye. At this staining of the intercellular compartiments and nuclear and intracellular staining of superficial epithelium cells was visible. Furthermore there were differences in permeability of the dye in diabetes group and control group.
Conclusions
This method is suitable for viewing cellular structures of corneal epithelial lesions after staining with fluorescein in-vivo and submits examination of staining pattern and permeability of fluorescein.