生物样品折射率的空间变化导致了光学畸变的产生，这种畸变对于共聚焦显微镜观察厚的生物样品和活体体内组织成像是一种严重的限制。自适应光学(AO)技术是通过快速反应的变形镜使镜面发生形变来补偿像差，在共聚焦显微镜中应用自适应光学技术可以校正光学畸变，观察深层组织活动，进行活体成像和实时检测。详细分析了共聚焦显微镜中像差的来源及光学畸变的特点，讨论了目前在共聚焦显微镜中自适应光学校正的方案及研究现状，讨论了共聚焦显微镜中自适应光学的波前传感器、畸变测量和波前校正器，并探讨了目前超高分辨率显微成像技术的发展方向。

Spatial variations in the refractive index of the biological specimen introduce optical aberrations that degrade image quality. In confocal microscopy this is a serious limitation when imaging penetrates into thick biological specimens, in particular for in vivo tissue imaging. Adaptive optics (AO) enable mirror deformation to compensate the aberration by rapid response deformable mirror. In confocal microscopy, it can correct the aberrations, observe deep tissue activity, perform in vivo tissue imaging, measure and restore the optimum resolution. This review discusses the origins and characteristics of aberrations in confocal microscopy. The correction schemes by using adaptive optics in confocal microscopy and the research progress are discussed. Wavefront sensor, aberration measurement and aberration correction devices of adaptive optics in confocal microscope are discussed. The trends of adaptive optics in confocal microscopy are also reviewed.