Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To obtain normative data for the normal laboratory beagle cornea using high-resolution in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM). ANIMALS STUDIED: Sixteen eyes of eight healthy young female intact beagles. PROCEDURES: The central cornea was imaged using IVCM. Mixed effects linear regression was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: in vivo confocal microscopy allowed detailed visualization and quantification of epithelial cells (superficial epithelial cell diameter: 43.25 ± 6.64 μm, basal cell diameter: 4.43 ± 0.67 μm), and nerve fibers (subepithelial nerve fiber diameter: 2.38 ± 0.69 μm, anterior stromal nerve fiber diameter: 16.93 ± 4.55 μm). Keratocyte density (anterior stroma 993.38 ± 134.24 cells/mm(2) , posterior stroma 789.38 ± 87.13 cells/mm(2) ) and endothelial cell density (2815.18 ± 212.59 cells/mm(2) ) were also measured. CONCLUSION: High-resolution IVCM provides detailed noninvasive evaluation of the cornea in the normal laboratory beagle.