Falke K, Prakasam R K, Guthoff R F, Stachs O
Augenklinik, Universität Rostock, Germany.
Klin Monbl Augenheilkd. 2012 Dec;229(12):1185-90. doi: 10.1055/s-0032-1327981. Epub 2012 Dec 20.
Limbal disorders can lead to loss of stem cell population and deficiency in corneal integrity. The aim of this study is to describe the morphological features of this region by using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in healthy subjects, contact lens wearers and in patients with surface disorders. On examination hyper- and hyporeflective finger-like structures were found with numerous basal epithelial cells within and in between crypts. In contrast, detailed imaging of limbal palisades of Vogt was not possible on SD-OCT, the corresponding hyperreflective line was identified. These typical crypts were less pronounced or absent in cases with corneal alterations as has been demonstrated. Additionally morphological changes at the level of intermediate and basal cell layers were discussed. A better understanding of the corneal limbus can provide valuable clues on understanding cell integrity and wound-healing processes. In future, quantitative analyses of limbal epithelium in different corneal disorders will be preferable.
角膜缘疾病可导致干细胞群丧失和角膜完整性不足。本研究的目的是利用共聚焦激光扫描显微镜（CLSM）和光谱域光学相干断层扫描（SD-OCT）描述健康受试者、隐形眼镜佩戴者以及表面疾病患者该区域的形态特征。检查发现，隐窝内及隐窝之间有许多基底上皮细胞，存在高反射和低反射的指状结构。相比之下，在SD-OCT上无法对Vogt角膜缘栅栏进行详细成像，但可识别出相应的高反射线。如已证实的那样，在角膜改变的病例中，这些典型的隐窝不太明显或不存在。此外，还讨论了中间细胞层和基底细胞层水平的形态学变化。更好地了解角膜缘可为理解细胞完整性和伤口愈合过程提供有价值的线索。未来，对不同角膜疾病中角膜缘上皮进行定量分析将更可取。
