Fluorescein Punctate Staining Traced to Superficial Corneal Epithelial Cells by Impression Cytology and Confocal Microscopy

摘要

Purpose.The basis of fluorescein-associated superficial punctate staining in dry eyes is controversial. Prior explanations include fluorescein pooling in surface erosive defects, intercellular trapping of fluorescein, and intracellular staining in dead cells. In this study, the hypothesis that punctate erosions are individual cells with enhanced fluorescence was tested.