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Updated: May 23, 2026
Full-Field Optical Coherence Microscopy for Histology-Like Analysis of Stromal Features in Corneal Grafts
Published on: October 21, 2022
Specular microscopic features of corneal endothelial vacuolation
Mozhgan Rezaei Kanavi1, Mohammad-Ali Javadi, Tahereh Chamani
1Ophthalmic Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Purpose:
To introduce a specular microscopic reference image for endothelial vacuolation in donated corneas.
Methods:
Two corneas from a donor with diffuse, round to oval dark areas at the endothelial level on slit lamp biomicroscopy and one normal-appearing donor cornea underwent specular microscopy, histopathologic evaluation and transmission electron microscopy.
Results:
Specular microscopy of the two corneas with abnormal-looking endothelium revealed large numbers of dark, round to oval structures within the endothelium in favor of endothelial vacuolation. Light microscopy disclosed variable sized cyst-like structures within the cytoplasm. Transmission electron microscopy showed electron-lucent and relatively large-sized intracytoplasmic vacuoles. These features were not observed in the endothelium of the normal cornea.
Conclusion:
The specular microscopic features of endothelial vacuolation in donated corneas were confirmed by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, therefore the specular image may be proposed as a reference to eye banks.
