344 Image Analysis and Modeling in Ophthalmology
In addition to the stromal keratocytes, dendritic cells, called Langerhans cells, can
become activated and serve as potent markers for severity of inammation. These cells
can be located among the suprabasal and basal cells and nerve plexus of the cornea. They
present as large cells with longer processes or smaller cells without cellular extensions in
IVCM images (Jalbert et al. 2003). These are resident antigen-presenting cells involved in
the activation of other immune cells or lymphocytes, which can propagate inammation
(Wakamatsu et al. 2008).
Apart from visualizing alterations in the cornea, including deposits and changes of
morphology, IVCM has the ability to detect novel structures th ...