Clinical specular microscopy. II. Qualitative evaluation of corneal endothelial photomicrographs
R. A. Laing, M. M. Sandstrom and H. M. Leibowitz
The clinical specular microscope shows the morphological appearance of the
endothelium in normal and abnormal corneas. This instrument resolves the
endothelial mosaic of the normal cornea into a quasiregular pattern of
contiguous cells having well-defined cell boundaries. Cell size varies over
a wide range in a number of disorders, and endothelial cells may assume
shapes that are substantially different from their usual hexagonal
appearance. Cell boundaries are dark and most commonly appear as a
straight, narrow line. However, other types of cell boundaries,
collectively referred to as doubled boundaries, have been encountered. Cell
boundaries normally intersect in a manner that results in three angles of
intersection, each approximately 60 degrees, but variations from this
pattern are seen. A number of noncellular structures also can be seen in
the endothelial zone.
