BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Recently, the cornea-specific in vivo laser confocal microscope has become available. The objective of the current study was to obtain laser confocal images of fresh and cryopreserved human amniotic membrane. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fresh and cryopreserved amniotic membranes from different donors were examined using the in vivo laser scanning confocal microscope (Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II Rostock Cornea Module [HRT II-RCM]; Heidelberg Engineering GmbH, Dossenheim, Germany). RESULTS: In all samples of both fresh and cryopreserved amniotic membranes, the HRT II-RCM resolved four distinct layers: the epithelium, a basement membrane, a cell-rich stromal layer (fibroblast layer), and a spongy stromal layer. In a posterior aspect of the basement membrane layer (facing the fibroblast layer), microfolds were more prominent in fresh amniotic membranes than in cryopreserved amniotic membranes. For the cell-rich stromal layer, mesenchymal cells were observed more distinctively in fresh amniotic membranes than in cryopreserved amniotic membranes. CONCLUSION: These baseline laser confocal images can be used for future investigation of in vivo remodeling after amniotic membrane transplantation.
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