Coexistence of neuropathic corneal pain, corneal nerve abnormalities, depression, and low quality of life.

Purpose: To evaluate the quality of life (QoL), mental health conditions and corneal morphology in neuropathic corneal pain (NCP) subjects without a significant ocular surface disease.

Methods: A composite questionnaire was administered to 228 consecutive subjects, assessing the pain intensity, duration, and quality using a modified version of the Self-Administered Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (S-LANSS) and Pain Detect (PD) questionnaires. Subjects diagnosed with possible central NCP and two sub-groups of patients diagnosed with peripheral ocular pain completed an additional battery of mental health questionnaires and were examined by In Vivo Confocal Microscopy (IVCM).

Results: Of the 76 subjects that reported chronic ocular pain (duration >1 month), 53 were classified with probable NCP. Nine subjects without signs that justify the pain and non-responding to topical anaesthesia, were considered affected by central NCP. In these patients, a significant negative correlation was found between the presence pain and the mental component of the QoL (R = 0.733), and a positive correlation between the severity of pain the presence post-traumatic stress disorder (R = 0.83) and depression (R = 0.93). Although neuromas and sprouting had higher frequency in the central NCP group compared the control groups, these differences was not statistically different.

Conclusions: The assessment of ocular pain characteristics using multiple questionnaires and IVCM may help to recognize differences between nociceptive and neuropathic pain. An association between pain intensity and mental health condition may guide the therapeutical choices.