[Confocal microscopy of the cornea. Communication 1. The normal morphological pattern]

The paper presents the results of life-time confocal microscopy using a Confoscan-4 confocal microscope (Nidek). The study was conducted on 10 healthy volunteers (20 eyes), which evaluated the specific features of the normal morphological pattern of the cornea. The morphological features of three types of anterior corneal epithelial (basal, wing, and spiny) cells were revealed. The possibilities of visualizing subbasal and stromal nerve fibers were assessed. Corneal stromal layers (these being anterior, anteromedian, median, and posterior) differing in the density of cellular elements, their shape, and orientation) were conventionally identified. In health, Bowman's and Descemet's membranes were not visualized as they were transparent and failed to reflect light. The posterior corneal epithelium was microscopically presented by a layer of light hexagonal or polygonal squamous cells with well-defined outlines. Thus, life-time corneal confocal microscopy is a highly informative noninvasive study.