Cytobrush sampling in conjunctival cytology

The cervical cytobrush was used to obtain samples from the temporal bulbar conjunctiva of normal and nonnormal eyes in 54 cases after application of local anesthesia. The cotton swab was also used. All samples were smeared on glass slides, fixed immediately and then stained by a routine Papanicolaou method. On microscopic examination plenty of well preserved cells were present in all smears sampled by the cervical cytobrush. On the contrary, all samples obtained by the cotton swab contained few cells, most of which showed degeneration. The cervical cytobrush is very useful to conjunctival cytology because it provides abundant cellular material and good cell preservation, using standard and simple preparatory methods.