The most powerful optical procedures for characterising in detail the director profile in liquid crystal cells are based on the excitation of guided modes. Over the past ten to fifteen years a variety of cell geometries have been used. Most of these are not particularly suitable for the study of real commercial cells. In this study we briefly review the earlier techniques and go on to discuss recent developments. The implementation of the fully-leaky guided wave technique which uses low index coupling prisms and involves monitoring both reflected and transmitted signals with real commercial cells is discussed. In addition a further very recent modification using a convergent-beam geometry together with the fully-leaky arrangement is considered. This very latest development paves the way for detailed dynamic studies of commercial devices as well as giving potential for the exploration of single pixels.