Characterization of changes observed in the corneal endothelium with the specular microscope.

The specular microscope reveals little of the internal features of the corneal endothelium, but in certain experimental and clinical situations vague markings of four different appearances occur and indicate intracellular disturbances. Comparison of the specular microscopical appearances of the affected cells in vitro with stained flat-mount preparations of the same cells shows that three of the markings are due to intracellular vacuoles and the fourth to cell rupture. The differing specular microscopical appearances of the vacuoles are discussed.