Multiple Noninvasive Examination Modality to Evaluate the Severity of Ocular Surface Disorders

In vivo confocal microscopy, anterior segment optical coherence tomography, keratograph and impression cytology are noninvasive, rapid and easily repeatable technique to investigate ocular surface disorders. In vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) enables morphological and quantitative analysis of ocular surface microstructure. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) allows for imaging of the morphology of biological tissue with micrometer scale resolution at imaging depths of 1 to 2mm below the tissue surface. [1,2] Anterior segment OCT (ASOCT) has been developed to evaluate corneal diseases[3-8] in different layers. Keratography includes noninvasive meibography and tear interferometry. The former demonstrates the morphology of meibomian glands whereas the later observes quality and quantity of the lipid layer of the tear film. Impression cytology shows the morphology of the corneal and conjunctival epithelial cells, their staining behavior, and nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio could be observed in detail.

Here the investigators proposed this clinical trial to collect cases of different etiologies of ocular surface diseases. With at least one of these four non-invasive examination modalities, the investigators aim to analyze and compare the detecting results. The investigators especially focus on the possibility of using ASOCT to predict the condition of limbal epithelial stem cells, aiming to use this patient-friendly tool to detect the patient's limbal conditions.