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In Vivo Confocal Microscopy in the Diagnosis and Management of Dry Eye: A Focus on Imaging Protocols and Interpretation
Published on: November 11, 2025
571
Advances in dry eye imaging: the present and beyond.
Tommy C Y Chan1,2, Kelvin H Wan3, Kendrick C Shih4
1Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology
|October 7, 2017
Summary
New imaging techniques offer objective measurements for dry eye disease, revealing parameters beyond clinical assessment. These advanced methods provide comprehensive insights into the structural and functional aspects of this complex condition.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Biomedical Imaging
- Corneal Science
Background:
- Dry eye disease is a multifactorial condition impacting ocular surface health.
- Clinical assessments alone have limitations in fully characterizing dry eye.
- Objective, quantifiable measures are needed for accurate diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the application of various imaging techniques in the diagnosis and characterization of dry eye disease.
- To highlight how advanced imaging provides new parameters for understanding dry eye.
- To synthesize current literature on imaging modalities for dry eye assessment.
Main Methods:
- Literature search for studies using imaging in dry eye disease.
- Review of techniques including non-invasive tear breakup time (NITBUT).
- Inclusion of optical coherence tomography (OCT), meibomian gland imaging, interferometry, in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM), thermography, and optical quality assessment.
Main Results:
- Imaging modalities offer objective, quantitative data on dry eye parameters.
- New parameters, unmeasurable by clinical exam, are defined by these techniques.
- Combined imaging approaches yield comprehensive information on static and dynamic properties.
Conclusions:
- Advanced imaging significantly enhances the objective assessment of dry eye disease.
- These techniques provide unprecedented insights into the structural and functional deficits.
- Imaging is crucial for a thorough understanding and management of multifactorial dry eye.
