In light microscopy, achieving uniform lighting throughout the field of view is essential to obtain clear images. However, thicker samples commonly suffer from image blur due to out-of-focus illumination, notably raised in fluorescence microscopy because dye molecules are activated across all planes, including those out of focus. Confocal-type fluorescence microscopy efficiently addresses this obstacle by reducing out-of-focus light, thereby permitting high-quality imaging in thick tissues. By focusing the light and detector on a diffraction-limited point and monitoring the material point by point, confocal microscopes may obtain full pictures with optical sectioning abilities for 3D reconstruction. With numerous varieties offering distinct advantages and limits, confocal microscopes serve as important tools for accurate imaging and analysis across different sectors. This article gives a concise review of confocal fluorescence microscopy.
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