Confocal microscopy in lattice corneal dystrophy

Background: The purpose of the study was to assess the appearance of lattic e corneal dystrophy by means of white-light confocal microscopy. Methods: T wo consecutive patients with lattice corneal dystrophy were prospectively e xamined. In vivo white-light tandem-scanning confocal microscopy was perfor med in the right eye of the first patient. Her left eye had undergone penet rating keratoplasty 4 years earlier. Histologic findings of the corneal but ton were compared with confocal microscopic findings of the right eye. The other patient was monocular and confocal microscopy was performed only in t he non-seeing eye. Results: In both patients, linear and branching structur es with changing reflectivity and poorly demarcated margins were visualized in the stroma. The linear structures measured approximately 40-80 mu m in width. Conclusion: Lattice corneal dystrophy presents characteristic linear images on confocal microscopy and should not be misdiagnosed as fungal hyp hae in cases of corneal infection.