Confocal microscopy in lattice corneal dystrophy

Background: The purpose of the study was to assess the appearance of lattice corneal dystrophy by means of white-light confocal microscopy. Methods: Two consecutive patients with lattice corneal dystrophy were prospectively examined. In vivo white-light tandem-scanning confocal microscopy was performed in the right eye of the first patient. Her left eye had undergone penetrating keratoplasty 4 years earlier. Histologic findings of the corneal button were compared with confocal microscopic findings of the right eye. The other patient was monocular and confocal microscopy was performed only in the non-seeing eye. Results: In both patients, linear and branching structures 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 hyphae in cases of corneal infection.