Laser confocal corneal microscopy: A new diagnostic option for fungal keratitis / 医学研究生学报

ABSTRACT

Objective: Fungal keratitis is one of the most common diseases leading to blindness.It has a high incidence in China,and its early diagnosis and treatment are of vital importance.We aimed to investigate the value of laser confocal corneal microscopy in the clinical diagnosis of fungal keratitis.Methods: We conducted laser confocal corneal microscopy on 37 patients suspected of fungal keratitis,and compared the results with those obtained from the corneal tissue smears and fungal cultivation.Results: The fungus-infected corneas histologically exhibited defected epithelial cells,damaged subepithelial nerves and disordered stroma with reduced transparence.The hyphae showed bright,disordered,interlaced thread-or short rod-like structures.The positive rates of smear examination,fungus cultivation and laser confocal corneal microscopy were 48.65,62.16 and 78.39% for the 37 eyes,75.00,87.50 and100% for the 16 untreated eyes,and 28.57,42.85 and 61.90% for the other 21 pretreated eyes.Conclusion: Confocal laser corneal microscopy,rapid,effective and noninvasive,can be used as an important new alternative in the diagnosis of fungal keratitis