Figure 3. Representative images of diabetic keratopathy progression.

Slit lamp images with or without sodium fluorescein staining showing different severity of DNK. A cornea at first stage with scattered superficial stromal scarring and neovascularization in sclerotic scatter illumination photograph (top) and adjacent irregular hyperplastic epithelium and superficial punctate staining in cobalt blue scatter illumination photograph (bottom). A cornea at second stage with diffuse stromal edema and Descemet folds in sclerotic scatter illumination photograph (top) and lamellar staining indicating epithelial lamellar defect in cobalt blue scatter illumination photograph (bottom). A cornea at third stage with stromal infiltrate, neovascularization and hypopyon in sclerotic scatter illumination photograph (top) and stromal deep ulcerations in cobalt blue scatter illumination photograph (bottom), indicating excessive inflammation. The images were taken at the Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University clinic.