Purpose: To evaluate light backscattering (LB) in corneal layers in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome dry eye (SSDE) utilizing in vivo corneal confocal microscopy (IVCM) and to determine the eventual association with the lacrimal functional test values.
Methods: A complete ophthalmic evaluation, Schirmer test with and without stimulation, break-up time (BUT) and IVCM were performed on 55 patients affected by SSDE and in an age- and sex-matched cohort of healthy participants (HP). Light backscattering, measures as light reflectivity unit (LRU), detected by IVCM at Bowman's membrane (BM) at 50 μm, at 100 μm and at 200 μm deeper than BM was compared in the two groups. The correlations between LB values and lacrimal function results were evaluated.
Results: In patients affected by SSDE, LB was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in each corneal layer examined (+14 ± 6.33 LRU at BM), compared with HP. A good reverse correlation between the light reflectivity measures at BM with Schirmer test with (r = -0.91) and without (r = -0.90) stimulation and BUT (r = -0.88) was found. Correlations were lower in the deeper corneal layers.
Conclusion: Even if our results should be confirmed in further studies with a larger population, these findings show that IVCM is a device able to detect alterations in corneal layers in SSDE patients related to the lacrimal function. Light backscattering (LB) could be very useful for clinical diagnosis and management of SSDE.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/aos.13194 | DOI Listing |
Alzheimers Dement (N Y)
January 2025
Department of Medicine Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Qatar Foundation Doha Qatar.
Introduction: Corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) detects neurodegeneration in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia and identifies subjects with MCI who develop dementia. This study assessed whether abnormalities in corneal endothelial cell (CEC) morphology are related to corneal nerve morphology, brain volumetry, cerebral ischemia, and cognitive impairment in MCI and dementia.
Methods: Participants with no cognitive impairment (NCI), MCI, and dementia underwent CCM to quantify corneal endothelial cell density (CECD) and area (CECA), corneal nerve fiber morphology, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain volumetry, and severity of brain ischemia.
Eye Vis (Lond)
January 2025
ELZA Institute AG, Bahnhofstrasse 15, 8001, Zurich, Switzerland.
Background: Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) is the most challenging corneal infection to treat, with conventional therapies often proving ineffective. While photoactivated chromophore for keratitis-corneal cross-linking (PACK-CXL) with riboflavin/UV-A has shown success in treating bacterial and fungal keratitis, and PACK-CXL with rose bengal/green light has demonstrated promise in fungal keratitis, neither approach has been shown to effectively eradicate AK. This case study explores a novel combined same-session treatment approach using both riboflavin/UV-A and rose bengal/green light in a single procedure.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTurk J Ophthalmol
December 2024
Keio University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo, Japan.
In vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) is a non-invasive imaging technique used to visualize the layers of the cornea and conjunctiva in real time. In patients with atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC) and vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC), this technology can be useful in diagnosing and monitoring the disease, as well as evaluating the efficacy of treatments. IVCM can reveal subclinical abnormalities in the corneal and conjunctival epithelium such as inflammatory cell infiltrates and tissue damage, which can provide insight into the pathogenesis of AKC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDigit Health
December 2024
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
Background: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a common complication of diabetes, and its early identification is crucial for improving patient outcomes. Corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) can non-invasively detect changes in corneal nerve fibers (CNFs), making it a potential tool for the early diagnosis of DPN. However, the existing CNF analysis methods have certain limitations, highlighting the need to develop a reliable automated analysis tool.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClin Ophthalmol
December 2024
Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
Purpose: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a rare hereditary disorder of the connective tissue. Despite recent attention to corneal abnormalities in OI, understanding remains limited. This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate corneal changes in a large sample of OI patients compared to controls using in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM).
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