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Updated: Sep 27, 2026
Corneal Confocal Microscopy: A Novel Non-invasive Technique to Quantify Small Fibre Pathology in Peripheral Neuropathies
Published on: January 3, 2011
In vivo confocal microscopy of Fleck dystrophy and pre-Descemet's membrane corneal dystrophy
Juha M Holopainen1, Jukka A O Moilanen, Timo M T Tervo
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of Helsinki, PO Box 220, 00029 HUS, Finland. juha.holopainen@hus.fi
Purpose:
To assess the value of in vivo confocal microscopy (CM) in the diagnosis of Fleck dystrophy and pre-Descemet's membrane corneal dystrophy.
Methods:
Case report of two patients. Standard slit-lamp and ophthalmic examination and in vivo CM were performed on both patients. The thickness of the cornea and the morphology of the corneal epithelium, stroma, endothelium, and subbasal nerves were evaluated by confocal microscopy.
Results:
Biomicroscopy revealed bilateral, fine, dust-, and flour-like opacities in the corneal stroma for the Fleck dystrophy patient. In the pre-Descemet's membrane corneal dystrophy patient, biomicroscopy showed opacities larger than those in the first patient. Both patients were then examined by in vivo CM. Confocal microscopy of the Fleck dystrophy showed intracellular deposits throughout the stroma. In pre-Descemet's membrane corneal dystrophy, however, these and the extracellular deposits were observed immediately anterior to Descemet's membrane. The thicknesses of the corneas were 560 and 650 microm for Fleck and pre-Descemet's membrane corneal dystrophy, respectively. The surface epithelium, subbasal nerves, and endothelium showed normal morphology in both patients.
Conclusion:
In vivo CM is a valuable tool in diagnosing rare corneal dystrophies when the final diagnosis is difficult to obtain with conventional methods.
