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Updated: Jul 11, 2026
Full-Field Optical Coherence Microscopy for Histology-Like Analysis of Stromal Features in Corneal Grafts
Published on: October 21, 2022
Histopathologic study of corneal stromal dystrophies: a 10-year experience
Leonardo N Santos1, Bruno F Fernandes, Leticia Rielo de Moura
1Department of Ophthalmology and Pathology, The McGill University Health Center & Henry C. Witelson Ocular Pathology Laboratory, Montreal, Canada. leonnsantos@gmail.com
Purpose:
To determine the frequency and describe the histopathologic features of stromal corneal dystrophies over a 10-year period.
Methods:
A single-centered, retrospective analysis was performed on corneal specimens diagnosed as stromal dystrophies retrieved from the Henry C. Witelson Ophthalmic Pathology Laboratory and Registry (Montreal, Canada) over a period of 10 years. Corneal specimens obtained during keratoplasty were subjected to hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid-Schiff, and other special staining.
Results:
During the period of the study, 885 corneal specimens from penetrating keratoplasties were received. Twenty-six (2.9%) specimens from a total of 22 patients showed stromal corneal dystrophies: 17 (65.4%) eyes with lattice dystrophy, 5 (19.2%) eyes with combined granular/lattice ("Avellino") dystrophy, 3 (11.5%) eyes with granular dystrophy, and 1 (3.9%) eye with macular dystrophy.
Conclusions:
Corneal stromal dystrophies have distinct histopathologic features, which can be diagnosed with routine and special staining, particularly for combined granular/lattice (Avellino) dystrophy. Clinically, combined granular/lattice (Avellino) dystrophy can have features of both lattice and granular dystrophies, which can be misleading for diagnosis. Lattice dystrophy was the most frequent stromal dystrophy in this particular population.
