Surface cell morphology of the anesthetic human cornea: a color specular microscopic study.

The technique of color specular microscopy has been utilized to study the surface cell morphology of the human cornea in 6 subjects with profound corneal anesthesia from diverse causes. In an analysis of cell area, perimeter, and shape, anesthetic corneas showed a statistically significant increase in cell size and perimeter. In addition, there was a loss of cellular outlines and overall increase in rose bengal staining of cells. We believe that these cellular microscopic changes reflect profound changes in epithelial cell turnover related to a decrease in neurohumoral transmitters known to be necessary for maintenance of normal corneal morphology and function.