PURPOSE: To study the appearance of a fibrous retrocorneal membrane as seen by confocal microscopy. METHODS: A 67-year-old white woman with a history of multiple ocular surgeries, including repeated penetrating keratoplasties for aphakic bullous keratopathy, developed a retrocorneal membrane in the right eye. The membrane was first noticed 3 years after the last corneal transplant and remained stable subsequently. The patient was examined by in vivo white light tandem-scanning confocal microscopy. RESULTS: At the level of the retrocorneal membrane, confocal microscopy disclosed the presence of a hyperreflective fibrous-appearing layer. Normal endothelial cells could not be found. Anterior to the hyperreflective layer, activated keratocytes were identified. CONCLUSION: Confocal microscopy may allow noninvasive diagnosis of fibrous retrocorneal membrane. Additionally, our data suggest that the posterior keratocytes might play a role in the production and deposition of fibrous tissue.
PURPOSE: To study the appearance of a fibrous retrocorneal membrane as seen by confocal microscopy. METHODS: A 67-year-old white woman with a history of multiple ocular surgeries, including repeated penetrating keratoplasties for aphakic bullous keratopathy, developed a retrocorneal membrane in the right eye. The membrane was first noticed 3 years after the last corneal transplant and remained stable subsequently. The patient was examined by in vivo white light tandem-scanning confocal microscopy. RESULTS: At the level of the retrocorneal membrane, confocal microscopy disclosed the presence of a hyperreflective fibrous-appearing layer. Normal endothelial cells could not be found. Anterior to the hyperreflective layer, activated keratocytes were identified. CONCLUSION: Confocal microscopy may allow noninvasive diagnosis of fibrous retrocorneal membrane. Additionally, our data suggest that the posterior keratocytes might play a role in the production and deposition of fibrous tissue.