Differences in corneal epithelium in patients with diagnosed macular and granular corneal dystrophy

Abstract

AbstractPurpose To describe severity and forms of epithelial changes in patients suffering from macular and granular corneal dystrophy.Methods In examined group 9 patients were included, 4 with diagnosis of macular and 5 of granular corneal dystrophy. Patients underwent basic slit lamp examination and in next order in vivo corneal confocal microscopy. Full thickness corneal scans were made and compared with corresponding images from healthy objects. Additional imaging of epithelial layer with higher magnification was made to compare detailed changes within single cells.Results On a slit lamp examination we described: in case of granular dystrophy macroscopic, polymorphic deposits of crystal structure, located in full thickness of corneal stroma and in epithelium. In macular dystrophy cornea stromal and epithelial changes took more diffused form. The corneal confocal microscopy images showed different intensity of typical stromal changes (crystalic or diffused depends on dystrophy type). In epithelium, in cases of macular dystrophy, we found different stages of intracellular changes, which secondary involved intercellular space. In granular dystrophy changes localized mostly in intercellular space with preserved cellular architectonic.Conclusion However both described dystrophies are classified as stromal, in different way involve cells in epithelial layer. Corneal confocal microscopy can be useful for detailed examination of corneal dystrophic changes.