HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (6) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Patel, D. V. Articles by McGhee, C. N. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Patel, D. V. Articles by McGhee, C. N. J.

Laser Scanning In Vivo Confocal Microscopy of the Normal Human Corneoscleral Limbus

From the Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

PURPOSE. To elucidate the structure of the human corneoscleral limbus by in vivo laser scanning confocal microscopy and to correlate limbal epithelial dimensions and density with the central epithelium and in relation to age.

METHODS. Fifty adult subjects were recruited into one of two age groups: younger (age <45 years) and older (age 45 years). Fifty left eyes of these 50 healthy subjects were examined by laser scanning in vivo confocal microscopy, to assess the basal epithelium of the central cornea and inferior limbus. Mean epithelial cell diameter, area, and density were calculated for the central basal epithelium, limbus–corneal basal epithelium, and limbus–palisade epithelium.

RESULTS. Data were analyzed in relation to the two age groups, group A, 30 ± 6 years (n = 25; mean ± SD), and group B, 60 ± 11 years (n = 25; P < 0.01). Mean epithelial density in the limbus–cornea and limbus–palisade regions decreased significantly with age: limbus–cornea group A = 7253 ± 1077 cells/mm² group B = 6614 ± 987 cells/mm², P = 0.03; limbus palisade group A = 5409 ± 799 cells/mm², group B = 5055 ± 722 cells/mm², P = 0.03). Central corneal epithelial density did not change with age: group A = 6162 ± 503 cells/mm², group B = 6362 ± 614 cells/mm², P = 0.08. Mean epithelial density was greatest at the limbus–cornea (7010 ± 1081 cells/mm²) and lowest at the limbus–palisades (5289 ± 847 cells/mm²). The mean width of palisade ridges was 25.0 ± 6.3 µm.

CONCLUSIONS. This is the first study to image clearly the living human corneal limbus by laser scanning in vivo confocal microscopy and to demonstrate quantitative changes in the basal epithelium with age.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. Dvorscak and C. F. Marfurt Age-Related Changes in Rat Corneal Epithelial Nerve Density Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., March 1, 2008; 49(3): 910 - 916. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M Nubile, H S Dua, T E.-M Lanzini, P Carpineto, M Ciancaglini, L Toto, and L Mastropasqua Amniotic membrane transplantation for the management of corneal epithelial defects: an in vivo confocal microscopic study Br. J. Ophthalmol., January 1, 2008; 92(1): 54 - 60. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Q. Yu and M. I. Rosenblatt Transgenic Corneal Neurofluorescence in Mice: A New Model for In Vivo Investigation of Nerve Structure and Regeneration Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., April 1, 2007; 48(4): 1535 - 1542. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]