A review of the application of in-vivo confocal microscopy on conjunctival diseases

Table 2 Summary of IVCM findings of glaucoma and glaucoma surgery

Type of glaucoma and therapy	IVCM findings
Ocular hypertension [53]	• Presence of microcysts in the conjunctival epithelial layer
POAG [48, 57]	• Presence of microcysts in the conjunctival epithelial layer with large MMD and MMA
Post glaucoma surgeries (trabeculectomy/ultrasonic circular cyclocoagulation/gold micro shunt/Xen 45 gel stent treated glaucoma) [47, 63, 72, 73, 77]	• Functional filtering blebs: microcysts present as large number, large area, non-encapsulated, minimal vascularization, without tortuous conjunctival vessels with irregular distributing over the conjunctiva; numerous atypical GCs; extensive, widely spaced subepithelial connective tissue • Non-functional filtering blebs: limited or absent microcyst; less GCs; dense and hyperreflective stroma; • Greater MMD and MMA represent a more successful treatment

IVCM = in-vivo confocal microscopy; POAG = primary open-angle glaucoma; MMD = microcysts mean density; MMA = microcysts mean area; GCs = goblet cells

ISSN: 2326-0254