Color specular microscopy of disorders involving the corneal epithelium.

Color specular microscopy, a noninvasive, in vivo microscopic technique, was utilized to study the corneal epithelium in 17 patients including eight with keratoconus, seven with bullous keratopathy, and two with Fuchs' corneal dystrophy. Color specular microscopy was also performed on rabbit corneas with experimental surgical trauma. Changes observed by specular microscopy in these diseased states correlated with alterations noted by light microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Specular microscopy can provide detailed in vivo cellular morphology of the ocular surface, obviating the need for tissue biopsy. Thus, specular microscopy is a valuable diagnostic technique available for the clinician to monitor changes of the diseased ocular surface.