The eye offers the unique possibility of direct visualization of microvessels in readily accessible tissues. Due to the compact anatomy of the eye, different microvascular beds of different embryological origin can be examined in albino mice without traumatic tissue preparation, Epifluorescence microscopy in combination with different fluorescent dyes has been applied. To observe individual cells in vessels, rhodamine 6G can be used to stain leukocytes and platelets, and acridine orange stains nuclei of leukocytes and endothelial cells. Fluorescein-isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran labels plasma.

Iris, limbus, conjunctival and choroidal vessels under normal and inflammatory conditions (endotoxin-induced uveitis) were examined in BALB/c mice and Lewis rats. Digital video technology can be applied to intravital microscopy with great benefit: video quality remains on a high level and the amount of time for the quantification procedure and the need of expensive software is reduced compared to classical video recording.