Methods for tissue imaging and uses thereof

A method of identifying a condition or disease state in a subject, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) determining the morphology, or number, or density, or dynamic behaviour of one or more immune cells at one or more locations within a focal plane (x, y) and/or at one or more focal depths (z) in corneal tissue of the subject over time;
• and
• b) comparing the morphology, or number, or density, or dynamic behaviour of the one or more immune cells at the one or more locations within the focal plane (x, y) and/or at the one or more focal depths (z) in the corneal tissue of the subject over time to a reference level;
• wherein a change in one or more of the morphology, or number, or density, or dynamic behaviour of the one or more immune cells as compared to the reference level is indicative of a condition or disease state in the subject.

A method of treating a condition or disease state in a subject, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) determining the morphology, or number, or density, or dynamic behaviour of one or more immune cells at one or more locations within a focal plane (x, y) and/or at one or more focal depths (z) in corneal tissue of the subject over time;
• b) comparing the morphology, or number, or density, or dynamic behaviour of the one or more immune cells at the one or more locations within the focal plane (x, y) and/or at the one or more focal depths (z) in the corneal tissue of the subject over time to a reference level;
• wherein a change in one or more of the morphology, or number, or density, or dynamic behaviour of the one or more immune cells as compared to the reference level is indicative of a condition or disease state in the subject;
• and
• c) selecting a treatment or modifying a treatment, based on the identification of a condition or disease state in a subject.

A method of monitoring treatment efficacy of a condition or disease state in a subject, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) determining the morphology, or number, or density, or dynamic behaviour of one or more immune cells at one or more locations within the focal plane (x, y) and/or at one or more focal depths (z) in corneal tissue of the subject over time;
• b) correlating the morphology, or number, or density, or dynamic behaviour of the one or more immune cells at the one or more locations within the focal plane (x, y) and/or at the one or more focal depths (z) in the corneal tissue of the subject over time to a reference level indicative of a responder or non-responder to treatment or to a baseline level before initiation of treatment;
• and
• c) optionally, continuing treatment when the subject is determined to be a responder;
• or switching the treatment when the subject is determined to be a non-responder, wherein switching the treatment comprises increasing a dose of the treatment administered, adding one or more of agents to the treatment regimen, discontinuing the treatment and initiating a different treatment regimen.

A method of diagnosing a condition or disease state in a subject, or predicting the likelihood of a subject developing a condition or disease state, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) determining the morphology, or number, or density, or dynamic behaviour of one or more immune cells at one or more locations within the focal plane (x, y) and/or at one or more focal depths (z) in corneal tissue of the subject over time;
• b) correlating the morphology, or number, or density, or dynamic behaviour of the one or more immune cells at the one or more locations within the focal plane (x, y) and/or at the one or more focal depths (z) in the corneal tissue of the subject over time to a reference level indicative of a subject with the condition or disease state, or a reference level indicative of a subject likely to develop the condition or disease state;
• and
• c) optionally, administering a treatment or preventative therapy to the subject when the subject is diagnosed with the condition or disease state, or deemed likely to develop the condition or disease state.