Intravital microscopy of leukocyte-endothelial dynamics using the Heidelberg confocal laser microscope in scleritis and allergic conjunctivitis

Abstract

Purpose: To examine leukocyte-endothelial cell rolling and arrest in human ocular vessels overlying sites of inflammation in various ocular inflammatory diseases in comparison to normal controls using the Heidelberg confocal laser microscope, which provides images with greater clarity and resolution than the tandem scanning microscope that uses white light. Methods: Healthy controls (n=8) and patients with active anterior scleritis (n=7) or allergic eye disease (n=4) were scanned using the Heidelberg confocal laser microscope (HRT II) with the Rostock cornea module attachment for a minimum of 5 min at a depth of 45-120 μm from the conjunctival epithelial surface. Results: There was a marked ..