In Vivo Confocal Microscopy Observation of Cell and Nerve Density in Different Corneal Regions with Monocular Pterygium

Shen, Yun-Zhi; Xu, Meiling; Sun, Song Yung

doi:10.1155/2020/6506134

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 20 publications

(26 reference statements)

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“…In vivo laser scanning confocal microscopy also revealed that the density of corneal basal epithelial cells, anterior stromal cells, endothelial cells, and the length of corneal nerve fibers in the central cornea were higher than in the area near the head of the pterygium. However, dendritic cell density was lower in the former than in the latter (28). Decreased corneal transparency may be due to the irregular arrangement of collagen fibers, uneven distribution of keratocytes, and disruption of the extracellular matrix structure.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

The influence of pterygium on corneal densitometry evaluated using the Oculus Pentacam system

Zhang

et al. 2023

Front. Med.

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PurposeTo assess the effect of pterygium on corneal densitometry (CD) values.MethodsOne hundred and nine patients (155 eyes) with primary pterygium were divided into a severe pterygium group (79 eyes) and a mild-to-moderate pterygium group (76 eyes) according to pterygium severity. Among them, 63 patients had monocular pterygium; and 25 patients (38 eyes) underwent pterygium excision combined with conjunctival autograft follow-up. A Pentacam anterior segment analyzer was used to obtain the CD values and corneal morphological parameters, including central corneal thickness (CCT), flat-axis keratometry (K1), steep-axis keratometry (K2), corneal astigmatism, irregular astigmatism, and spherical aberration. CD was subdivided into four concentric radial regions based on corneal diameter and three layers according to depth.ResultsCD values at 0–12 mm of the anterior 120 μm layer, 0–10 mm of the center layer and full thickness, and 2–6 mm of the posterior 60 μm layer were significantly higher in eyes affected by pterygium than in the contralateral unaffected eyes (all P < 0.05). CD values were significantly higher in the severe pterygium group than in the mild to moderate pterygium group (all P < 0.05). Corneal astigmatism, irregular astigmatism, K1, K2, CCT, and spherical aberration correlated with CD values in eyes with pterygium (all P < 0.05). CD values at 6–10, 0–12 mm in the anterior 120 μm layer and full thickness, 10–12 and 0–12 mm in the center layer were significantly decreased 1 month after pterygium surgery compared with those before surgery (all P < 0.05).ConclusionPatients with pterygium had increased CD values, particularly in the anterior and central layers. CD values were correlated with pterygium severity grading and corneal parameters. Pterygium surgery partially reduced the CD values.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

The influence of pterygium on corneal densitometry evaluated using the Oculus Pentacam system

Zhang

et al. 2023

Front. Med.

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“…Previous studies have shown that the cornea adjacent to pterygium has a reduction in BCD. 38 The greater localized UV exposure nasally thus cause more damage to the limbal stem cell niche in this location, thus explaining the observed greater reduction of nasal mean BCD in individuals with CUVAF.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Corneal Epithelial Cell Density Is Reduced in Young Adults With Conjunctival Ultraviolet Autofluorescence

Bhattacharya,

Edwards,

Harkin

et al. 2023

Cornea

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Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure on the corneal microstructure using conjunctival UV autofluorescence (CUVAF) as a marker of exposure. Methods: Young healthy adults aged 18 to 35 years were recruited. Participant's demographics and sun exposure behavior were recorded using questionnaires. Images of the bulbar conjunctiva from the right eye were captured and analyzed for the CUVAF area. Corneal microstructure was assessed by in vivo confocal microscopy and anterior segment optical coherence tomography. The presence of palisades of Vogt in all 4 limbal quadrants was recorded. Results: CUVAF was observed in 31 of 52 eyes (60%), with a mean (±SD) nasal, temporal, and total CUVAF area of 5.39 ± 4.16 mm2, 4.29 ± 4.27 mm2, and 9.67 ± 7.01 mm2, respectively. Individuals with CUVAF were significantly more likely to report undertaking moderate-intensity to high-intensity outdoor exercise (P = 0.021). Individuals with CUVAF were less likely to have visible nasal and temporal palisades of Vogt (P = 0.011). Corneal basal cell densities anterior to the nerve whorl (P < 0.001) and nasally (P = 0.005) were lower in individuals with CUVAF. Wing cell density anterior to the nerve whorl was lower in individuals with CUVAF (P = 0.011). No significant changes in the central and limbal corneal epithelial thickness were observed. Conclusions: Significant reductions in corneal epithelial cell density were observed in individuals with CUVAF, a biomarker of chronic UV exposure. This observation suggests that chronic UV exposure is damaging to the corneal microstructure.

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“…To the best of our knowledge, there are no published data that reveal the effects of blepharoptosis on the cornea using IVCM in previous studies. Despite the fact that being to a great extent undetectable on regular assessment procedures, the approach of IVCM has empowered en face assessment of corneal nerves in health and disease [ 4 , 7 ]. Furthermore, some customized software programs have allowed quantification of various aspects of nerve morphology including fibre length, density, width, tortuosity, branching, beading and reflectivity [ 5 , 17 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the corneal sub-basal nerve plexus by in vivo confocal microscopy in patients with blepharoptosis

Zhang

Jiang

et al. 2022

Annals of Medicine

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Background To assess in vivo confocal microscopy features of corneal sub-basal nerve plexus in patients with congenital or aponeurogenic blepharoptosis using a fully automated software (ACCMetrics). Patients and methods This prospective study included 33 patients with blepharoptosis and 17 normal controls. The corneal sub-basal nerve plexus was assessed using in vivo confocal microscopy, and the ocular surface status was evaluated by tear break-up times. Results The mean age of 33 patients with blepharoptosis and 17 normal controls were 38.77 ± 22.81 years and 48.35 ± 17.15 years, respectively. The mean duration of blepharoptosis was 16.42 ± 15.60 years. In 13 patients with unilateral blepharoptosis, there was no significant difference between affected eyes and contralateral eyes (all p s > .05), except for wider corneal nerve fibre width (CNFW) in affected eyes (0.024 ± 0.001 versus 0.023 ± 0.001 mm/mm 2 , p = .021). In 20 patients with bilateral blepharoptosis, there was no significant difference between the eyes. No significant difference was detected between 19 cases with congenital blepharoptosis and 14 cases with aponeurogenic blepharoptosis. When compared with normal controls, eyes with both unilateral and bilateral blepharoptosis had significantly wider CNFW. But from the point of aetiology, only eyes with congenital blepharoptosis presented with wider CNFW ( p = .001), rather than the eyes with aponeurogenic blepharoptosis ( p = .093). Besides, four young patients with congenital blepharoptosis revealed very sparse sub-basal nerve plexus. Conclusions These data suggested that corneal confocal microscopy demonstrated no significant changes in patients with blepharoptosis as compared with normal controls, except for relatively wider CNFW in congenital affected eyes. However, in some children and young adults with congenital blepharoptosis, the density of corneal sub-basal nerve plexus was evidently decreased, which needs to be cautioned when ones with congenital blepharoptosis want to take corneal surgeries or wear contact lens. Key messages When compared with normal controls, no significant effect was found in the influence of blepharoptosis on the most of corneal nerve parameters, except for corneal nerve fibre width (CNFW) in the group of congenital blepharoptosis. The age of onset of blepharoptosis may influence corneal nerve fibres, so timely surgical treatment of congenital blepharoptosis is not only conducive to the development of normal vision, but also beneficial to the reduction of corneal nerve lesions to some extent. We noted that some young blepharoptosis patients revealed sparse corneal nerve, which should be...

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In Vivo Confocal Microscopy Observation of Cell and Nerve Density in Different Corneal Regions with Monocular Pterygium

Cited by 6 publications

References 20 publications

The influence of pterygium on corneal densitometry evaluated using the Oculus Pentacam system

The influence of pterygium on corneal densitometry evaluated using the Oculus Pentacam system

Corneal Epithelial Cell Density Is Reduced in Young Adults With Conjunctival Ultraviolet Autofluorescence

Assessing the corneal sub-basal nerve plexus by in vivo confocal microscopy in patients with blepharoptosis

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