[In vivo laser confocal microscopic analysis of the interface between Bowman's layer and the stroma of the cornea]

Recently, cornea-specific in vivo laser confocal microscopy (Heidelberg Retina Tomograph 2 Rostock Cornea Module (HRT2-RCM), Heidelberg Engineering GmbH, Dossenheim, Germany) has become available, are now possible detailed in vivo observation of corneal and conjunctival microstructure. Using HRT2-RCM, we have demonstrated the presence of "polymorphic structures composed of fibrillar material" beneath Bowman's layer in normal volunteer eyes. We surmise that these microstructures may correspond to the modified and condensed anterior stromal collagen fibers/lamellae that merge into Bowman's layer. We also observed numerous ridges protruding into the epithelial basal and wing cell layers after application of pressure with a Tomo-cap. These ridges corresponded exactly to the orientation of the K-structures beneath the epithelial cells, suggesting that these ridge formations correspond to the pattern of the anterior mosaic formation. The potential association of these microstructures with anterior corneal mosaic formation is also discussed in this review.