HRT Rostock Cornea Module
In vivo Imaging of Acanthamoeba, Fusarium and Activated Keratocytes
Layer-by-Layer Corneal Imaging
- Early clinical assessment of Keratitis
- Clinical assessment of the nerve plexus with diabetic neuropathy
- Gauge keratoplasty & DSAEK immune response
- Identify distinct dystrophy subtypes
- Endothelial cell counting
Confocal microscopy with the HRT Rostock Cornea Module offers clinicians one of the most detailed views of cornea structure and pathology. The importance of differential diagnosis in the cornea was underscored by the recent fusarium and acanthamoeba outbreaks. Not only can the corneal module help differentiate bacterial, viral, parasitic and fungal infections, but it can also be used to help image LASIK flaps, filtering blebs, and count endothelial cells for post surgical follow-up and a wide variety of other applications.
Layer-by-Layer Corneal Imaging
Most anatomical layers and cell types may be viewed easily including epithelial cells (superficial, intermediate and basal), nerve plexi, stromal layers with keratocytes, Descemet’s membrane, endothelial cells, and immune response cells. Cross-sectional views may also be seen in oblique scans.
Early Clinical Assessment of Keratitis
Confocal microscopy has been used at an increasing rate to make initial clinical assessments of Acanthamoeba keratitis since waiting for corneal scraping tests could potentially delay sight-saving treatment. Acanthamoeba and fusarium often masquerade as bacterial or viral infections.
Gauge Keratoplasty & DSAEK Immune Response
Viewing inflammatory cell activity may help in evaluating the success of keratoplasty or point out microscopic areas of concern. In many types of corneal pathology immune response can be gauged by observing infiltrating cellular response.
Identify Distinct Dystrophy Subtypes
The HRT Rostock Cornea Module provides information on infections and dystrophies at a cellular level. Compared to slit lamp photography, confocal scanning technology creates a uniformly-illuminated image. Cellular structures are shown in fine detail, facilitating in vivo histology. Each dystrophy sub type (such as Map-Dot-Fingerprint, Granular, Fuchs’ and Lattice) have characteristic patterns which are recognizable under confocal microscopy.
In Fuchs’ Dystrophy, the HRT Rostock Cornea Module shows typical spherical dark areas corresponding to excrescences on Descemet’s membrane (A arrows), irregularly distributed guttae (B arrow) and retro corneal pigment granules (C arrows).
Endothelial Cell Counting
HRT Rostock Cornea Module offers a semi-automated endothelial cell counting feature. On the endothelial cell image, a region of interest is marked, then following one of several accepted counting methods, cells are marked and the system automatically calculates cell density.
