In vivo confocal microscopy of corneal microscopic foreign bodies in horses.
Abstract: To describe in vivo corneal confocal microscopy of horses with microscopic corneal foreign bodies and to correlate findings with clinical, cytological, and histopathologic evaluations of clinical cases and foreign body morphologies observed in vitro with the confocal microscope. Methods: Five horses with microscopic corneal foreign bodies. Methods: Sedated and anesthetized horses were examined with a modified Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II and Rostock Cornea Module. Confocal microscopy images were compared with images from cytologic and histopathologic corneal samples. To establish microscopic morphologic features, confocal microscopy images of burdock pappus bristles and surgical glove powder were obtained by in vitro examination. Results: Horses were examined by in vivo confocal microscopy to assist in identifying corneal opacities detected by slit-lamp biomicroscopy, to determine the etiology of clinically idiopathic keratitis, or to localize corneal opacities presumed to be foreign bodies for surgical planning. Corneal foreign bodies presumptively identified by confocal microscopy included burdock pappus bristles, other plant foreign materials, and surgical glove powder. The corneal foreign bodies appeared as moderately or hyper-reflective linear, circular, or oval structures by confocal microscopy and did not resemble any normal anatomic structures. The confocal microscopic identification of the foreign bodies was corroborated by cytologic and histopathologic findings in some horses. The in vivo confocal microscopic appearance of the foreign bodies was consistent with morphologies observed during examination of foreign bodies in vitro. Conclusions: In vivo corneal confocal microscopy provides a noninvasive method for the detection, characterization, and localization of microscopic foreign bodies in the equine cornea.
© 2014 American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.
Publication Date: 2014-01-13 PubMed ID: 24417756DOI: 10.1111/vop.12139Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research used corneal confocal microscopy on horses for the identification and characterization of microscopic foreign bodies in their corneas.
Methods
- The study was conducted on five horses which had microscopic foreign bodies in their corneas. After sedation and anesthetization, the horses were examined using a modified Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II and Rostock Cornea Module.
- Confocal microscopy images of the corneas were taken and later compared with images from cytologic (study of cells) and histopathologic (study of changes in tissues) corneal samples.
- Additionally, in vitro (outside the living body) confocal microscopy examinations were conducted on burdock pappus bristles and surgical glove powder to establish their microscopic morphological features.
Key Findings
- The researchers used in vivo (in the living body) confocal microscopy to achieve three key functions – to assist in identifying corneal opacities seen by slit-lamp biomicroscopy, to determine the cause of clinically unexplained keratitis (inflammation of the cornea), and to localize corneal opacities that were presumed to be foreign bodies for surgical planning.
- The presumed corneal foreign bodies identified through this process included burdock pappus bristles, other plant foreign materials, and surgical glove powder. These observed bodies differed from normal anatomical structures and appeared as moderately or hyper-reflective linear, circular, or oval structures under confocal microscopy.
- The identification of these foreign bodies through confocal microscopy was substantiated by cytologic and histopathologic findings in some of the horses.
- The in vivo confocal microscopic appearance of the foreign bodies corresponded to the morphologies observed in the in vitro examination of the foreign bodies.
Conclusion
- The study concludes that in vivo corneal confocal microscopy offers a noninvasive technique for the identification, characterization, and localization of microscopic foreign bodies in the cornea of horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Ledbetter EC, Irby NL, Schaefer DM.
(2014).
In vivo confocal microscopy of corneal microscopic foreign bodies in horses.
Vet Ophthalmol, 17 Suppl 1, 69-75.
https://doi.org/10.1111/vop.12139 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cornea / pathology
- Eye Foreign Bodies / diagnosis
- Eye Foreign Bodies / pathology
- Eye Foreign Bodies / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Male
- Microscopy, Confocal / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Ing S. Ocular and facial porcupine quills in a miniature horse.. Can Vet J 2022 Jul;63(7):747-750.
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