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

摘要

Punctate fluorescein staining is an important sign in ocular surface disease but its basis is controversial. The common view is that the spots reflect small epithelial defects. In this study, clinicocytologic and histopathologic correlation of punctate stains in dry eye disease was performed. The hyperfluorescent spots were traced from slit lamp examination to confocal microscopy of tissue to reveal that fluorescent superficial epithelial cells are basis of punctate staining.