Occurrence of corneal sub-epithelial microneuromas and axonal swelling in people with diabetes with and without (painful) diabetic neuropathy.

Aims/hypothesis: Non-invasive in vivo corneal confocal microscopy is gaining ground as an alternative to skin punch biopsy to evaluate small-diameter nerve fibre characteristics. This study aimed to further explore corneal nerve fibre pathology in diabetic neuropathy.

Methods: This cross-sectional study quantified and compared corneal nerve morphology and microneuromas in participants without diabetes (n=27), participants with diabetes but without distal symmetrical polyneuropathy (DSPN; n=33), participants with non-painful DSPN (n=25) and participants with painful DSPN (n=18).

Corneal Dendritic Cell Dynamics Are Associated with Clinical Factors in Type 1 Diabetes.

Time-lapsed in vivo corneal confocal microscopy (IVCCM) has shown that corneal dendritic cells (DCs) migrate at approximately 1 µm/min in healthy humans. We have undertaken IVCCM of the whorl region to compare the density of rounded DCs, and DCs with (wDCs) and without (woDCs) dendrites and dynamics; trajectory (length travelled/time), displacement (distance from origin to endpoint/time) speeds and persistence ratio (displacement/trajectory) of woDCs in subjects with type 1 diabetes (T1D) (n = 20) and healthy controls (n = 10). Only the wDC density was higher (p = 0.

Lid Margin Score Is the Strongest Predictor of Meibomian Area Loss.

Purpose: Although meibography provides direct evidence of gland dropout in meibomian gland dysfunction, this specialized technique is not available in most clinics. The primary aim was to determine which clinical ocular marker was most related to meibomian area loss. A secondary aim was to determine associations with confocal microscopy imaging of the lid margin.

In vivo immune cell dynamics in the human cornea.

In vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) allows the evaluation of the living human cornea at the cellular level. The non-invasive nature of this technique longitudinal, repeated examinations of the same tissue over time. Image analysis of two-dimensional time-lapse sequences of presumed immune cells with and without visible dendrites at the corneal sub-basal nerve plexus in the eyes of healthy individuals was performed.

Association between conjunctival goblet cells and corneal resident dendritic cell density changes in new contact lens wearers.

Background: To explore the interlink between conjunctival goblet and corneal dendritic cell density after six months of lens wear and to predict dendritic cell migration to the central cornea based on goblet cell loss in the conjunctiva as a response to contact lens wear.

Methods: Sixty-nine subjects who had never previously worn contact lenses were observed for six months; 46 were fitted with contact lenses and 21 served as a control group. Corneal confocal microscopy was used to quantify goblet and dendritic cell density before and after six months of daily lens wear.

Development of Feasible Methods to Image the Eyelid Margin Using In Vivo Confocal Microscopy.

Purpose: To develop a feasible method to image eyelid margin structures using in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) for use in clinical research. Second, to assess the association between IVCM and meibography images.

Methods: IVCM was performed on the central upper eyelid margin of 13 healthy participants (31 ± 5 years).

The Relationship between Corneal Nerve Morphology and Inflammatory Mediators and Neuropeptides in Healthy Individuals.

Significance: This study set out to explore the relationship between the ocular surface immune and nervous systems by exploring corneal nerve structure and the presence of inflammatory mediators and neuropeptides in the tear film.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the association between corneal nerve morphology and tear film inflammatory mediators and a neuropeptide in healthy individuals.

Methods: Flush tears were collected from both eyes of 21 healthy participants aged 39.

Associations between the menstrual cycle, lifestyle factors and clinical assessment of the ocular surface: a prospective observational study.

Background: Little is known about the ocular surface changes over the menstrual cycle in young women and the interactions with lifestyle factors. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the associations between modifiable lifestyle factors and menstrual cycle phases on the ocular signs and symptoms of dry eye in young healthy women.

Methods: This was a prospective 1-month observational study.

The impact of uncorrected astigmatism on night driving performance.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of uncorrected astigmatism on night driving performance on a closed-road circuit.

Methods: Participants included 10 drivers (mean age 24.4 ± 7.

The Relationship Between Corneal Dendritic Cells, Corneal Nerve Morphology and Tear Inflammatory Mediators and Neuropeptides in Healthy Individuals.

: To determine the association between corneal dendritic cell (DC) density and corneal nerve morphology and tear film inflammatory mediators and neuromediators in healthy individuals. : Flush tears were collected from 21 healthy participants aged 39.7 ± 9.

Characterization of Goblet Cells in a Pterygium Biopsy Using Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy and Immunohistochemistry.

Purpose: To confirm that structures presumed to be GCs observed using laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) are actually GCs.

Methods: A single tissue sample was obtained from a pterygium that was freshly excised from a 33-year-old male. After viewing what were believed to be GCs in the tissue sample using LSCM, the same sample was observed using laboratory confocal microscopy and immunohistochemistry.

Longitudinal changes in Langerhans cell density of the cornea and conjunctiva in contact lens-induced dry eye.

Background: The aim was to determine longitudinal changes in Langerhans cell density (LCD) in the human cornea and conjunctiva during asymptomatic and symptomatic contact lens wear.

Methods: Twenty-five participants with contact lens-induced dry eye (CLIDE) and 35 without CLIDE (NO-CLIDE), diagnosed using a range of symptom questionnaires and objective tests (tear film break up, cotton thread tear test and corneal staining) were enrolled. The central cornea and nasal bulbar conjunctiva were examined using a Heidelberg laser scanning confocal microscope at baseline and following one, four and 24 weeks wear of daily disposable hydrogel contact lenses.

Time Course of Changes in Goblet Cell Density in Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Contact Lens Wearers.

Purpose: To investigate longitudinal changes in goblet cell density (GCD) in contact lens (CL) wearers who do and do not develop symptoms of dry eye (DE).

Methods: Sixty healthy individuals fitted with daily disposable hydrogel CLs and 23 age-balanced non-CL-wearing controls underwent assessment using the 5-item dry eye questionnaire, noninvasive tear film break-up time measurement, ocular surface assessment, and phenol red thread test evaluation. Laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) and conjunctival impression cytology (CIC) were used to assess GCD at baseline and follow-up visits at 1 week and 1 and 6 months.

Inflammatory Cell Upregulation of the Lid Wiper in Contact Lens Dry Eye.

Purpose: To determine if Langerhans cells in the lid wiper are upregulated in contact lens-induced dry eye (CLIDE).

Methods: The lid wiper of one eye of 17 participants with CLIDE (assessed using the CLDEQ-8) and 29 without CLIDE (NO-CLIDE) was examined using a Heidelberg laser scanning confocal microscope after 6 months wear of daily disposable hydrogel contact lenses (Biomedics 1 day Extra). Twenty non-contact-lens-wearing controls were also examined.

Assessment of conjunctival goblet cell density using laser scanning confocal microscopy versus impression cytology.

Purpose: To determine the association between conjunctival goblet cell density (GCD) assessed using in vivo laser scanning confocal microscopy and conjunctival impression cytology in a healthy population.

Methods: Ninety (90) healthy participants undertook a validated 5-item dry eye questionnaire, non-invasive tear film break-up time measurement, ocular surface fluorescein staining and phenol red thread test. These tests where undertaken to diagnose and exclude participants with dry eye.