Cytology in anterior segment disease

Arriving at a diagnosis in a patient presenting with uncomplicated anterior segment disease is typically straightforward. The diagnosis is a clinical one, based on a thorough review of the patient's history, symptoms, and signs. There are, however, many relative and absolute indications for laboratory testing. Microbiological procedures (eg, culture and sensitivity testing) are common adjuncts to clinical diagnosis. These tests frequently do not produce immediate results and are useful only in cases of suspected microbial infection. Cytological testing offers almost immediate results and may be applied to a broader range of anterior segment diseases and disorders. In this paper the indications, applications, methods, and interpretations of cytological testing are discussed.