Modern possibilities of confocal microscopy

Confocal microscopy of the cornea is a modern method of research, allowing to carry out monitoring the state of the cornea in vivo due to the visualization of the tissue at the histomorphological level in the state of functional activity. Confocal microscopy is used for the research, expert and clinical purposes. Confocal microscope Confoscan 4 (NIDEK Technologies, Japan) allows to investigate the cornea by the non-invasive method, through immersion gel. Scanning the cornea occurs throughout its thickness in the direction of the endothelium to the epithelium with determination of the qualitative and quantitative composition of cells and nerves. The study allows to make the analysis of endothelial polymorphism pleomegatism and cell density. Z-ring nozzle accomplished the optical pachymetry of the cornea. In 2013 we conducted the confocal microscopy in 69patients: hereditary corneal dystrophies - 6, endothelial - epithelial corneal dystrophy including Fuchs dystrophy, cornea guttata and pseudoexfoliation keratopathy - 15, keratoconus - 18, SSG - 12, outcomes of keratitis - 11, etc. Conclusion. The analysis of the literature data and results of our own research show that confocal microscopy is a unique diagnostic method in a wide range of diseases of the cornea, with possible evaluation of the regeneration processes of the cornea, complications after different types of surgery on the cornea, and influence of the various pharmacological drugs, contact lenses and implants. The possibility of the confocal microscope to investigate the corneal tissue with the Key words: confocal microscopy, the visualization of microorganisms, inflammatory and epithelial cells, nerve fibers, cornea fibrosis opens prospects for using this method in ophthalmology.