Assessment of conjunctival goblet cell density using laser scanning confocal microscopy versus impression cytology

详细信息    查看全文

• 作者：Luisa H. Colorado ; Yahya Alzahrani ; Nicola Pritchard ; Nathan Efron ; ^{n.efron@qut.edu.au" class="auth_mail" title="E-mail the corresponding author}
• 关键词：Conjunctiva ; Goblet cells ; Laser scanning confocal microscopy ; Impression cytology
• 刊名：Contact Lens and Anterior Eye
• 出版年：2016
• 出版时间：June 2016
• 年：2016
• 卷：39
• 期：3
• 页码：221-226
• 全文大小：693 K

文摘

To determine the association between conjunctival goblet cell density (GCD) assessed using in vivo laser scanning confocal microscopy and conjunctival impression cytology in a healthy population.

Methods

Ninety (90) healthy participants undertook a validated 5-item dry eye questionnaire, non-invasive tear film break-up time measurement, ocular surface fluorescein staining and phenol red thread test. These tests where undertaken to diagnose and exclude participants with dry eye. The nasal bulbar conjunctiva was imaged using laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM). Conjunctival impression cytology (CIC) was performed in the same region a few minutes later. Conjunctival goblet cell density was calculated as cells/mm².

Results

There was a strong positive correlation of conjunctival GCD between LSCM and CIC (ρ = 0.66). Conjunctival goblet cell density was 475 ± 41 cells/mm² and 466 ± 51 cells/mm² measured by LSCM and CIC, respectively.

Conclusions

The strong association between in vivo and in vitro cellular analysis for measuring conjunctival GCD suggests that the more invasive CIC can be replaced by the less invasive LSCM in research and clinical practice.