Confocal Microscopy of the Human In Vivo Cornea

Abstract

The in-vivo observation of the living cornea by the technique of confocal microscopy provides en face images of high contrast and resolution1-4 . In contrast to Nipkow disk pinhole confocal microscopes,1-4 slit based confocal systems collect more light form the eye.5-6 The development of the wide-field specular microscope by Koester was limited by the low numerical aperture of the applanating cone objective7,8. Recent developments of a high numerical aperture for the wide-field specular microscope has resulted in a confocal microscope for the eye.9,10 We describe a new flying slit confocal microscope, illuminated with a halogen lamp, which has unique imaging characteristics for in vivo human confocal microscopy.