Characteristics of Corneal Endotheliitis among Different Viruses by in Vivo Confocal Microscopy

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To explore the cellular morphological characteristics and changes in corneal endotheliitis among different viruses by in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM).Methods: Corneal confocal images of 44 eyes of 44 patients with HSV, VZV, CMV and EBV corneal endotheliitis were studied retrospectively. Corneal confocal images of 44 normal eyes were used as controls.Results: The pathogens included cytomegalovirus (n = 20), herpes simplex virus (n = 8), varicella zoster virus (n = 10), and Epstein Barr virus (n = 6). There were no differences in the evaluated structures among the different viruses except for the lengths of the subbasal nerves and Langerhans cell densities. Deviations in endothelial cell layers were not significant among different viruses except for owl’s eye morphology.Conclusion: ICVM can assist in diagnosing endotheliitis. The results demonstrate that changes in the cornea were not different among the various viruses except for owl’s eye morphology, the lengths of the subbasal nerves and Langerhans cell densities

Keywords:

• viral corneal endotheliitis
• in vivo laser-scanning confocal microscopy
• cytomegalovirus
• herpes simplex virus
• varicella zoster virus

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Additional information

Funding

The National Natural Science Foundation of China [no. 81800801 and no. 31271045].