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PURPOSE: To evaluate the corneal sensitivity and nerve morphology in dry eyes. Methods: A total of 32 eyes of 16 patients (10 Sjgren’s syndrome and six non-Sjgren’s syndrome) and 19 eyes of 10 age-matched controls were studied. Sensitivity of the central cornea was measured by the Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometer. The morphology of corneal nerves was studied by in vivo confocal microscopy (ConfoScan 2.0, Fortune Technologies Srl, Vigonza (PD), Italy). Sub-basal epithelial nerve plexus, subepithelial nerve plexus, and stromal nerves were localized and evaluated for the number of nerves, thickness, reflectivity, and tortuosity for each frame. Results: The mean corneal sensitivity of dry eye patients (5.6mm/grs/S) was found significantly lower than that of the control (5.0mm/grs/S)-group (P< 0.01). Although the subepithelial nerves were thicker in dry eyes (mean: 6.38±1.18 μm) than control eyes (mean: 5.72±1.27 μm), this difference was not significant (P >0.05). Conclusion: Decreased corneal sensitivity is not associated with morphological changes of corneal nerves in dry eyes.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the corneal sensitivity and nerve morphology in dry eyes. Methods: A total of 32 eyes of 16 patients (10 Sjögren’s syndrome and six non-Sjögren’s syndrome) and 19 eyes of 10 age-matched controls were studied . The Sensitivity of the central cornea was measured by the Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometer. The morphology of corneal nerves was studied by in vivo confocal microscopy (ConfoScan 2.0, Fortune Technologies Srl, Vigonza (PD), Italy). Sub-basal epithelial nerve plexus, subepithelial nerve plexus, and stromal nerves were localized and evaluated for the number of nerves, thickness, reflectivity, and tortuosity for each frame. Results: The mean corneal sensitivity of dry eye patients (5.6 mm / grs / s) was found significantly lower than that of the control (5.0 mm / grs / S) -group (P <0.01). Although the subepithelial nerves were thicker in dry eyes (mean: 6.38 ± 1.18 μm) than control eyes difference was not significant (P> 0.05). Conclusion: Decr eased corneal sensitivity is not associated with morphological changes of corneal nerves in dry eyes.