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. 2014 Apr;28(4):466-71.
doi: 10.1038/eye.2014.4. Epub 2014 Jan 31.

Corneal sensitivity and morphology of the corneal subbasal nerve plexus in primary congenital glaucoma

Z Gatzioufas  1 , G Labiris  2 , F Hafezi  3 , A Schnaidt  2 , B Pajic  3 , A Langenbucher  2 , B Seitz  2
Affiliations

Corneal sensitivity and morphology of the corneal subbasal nerve plexus in primary congenital glaucoma

Z Gatzioufas et al. Eye (Lond). 2014 Apr.

Abstract

Background: To quantify the corneal subbasal nerve density and the total number of nerve fibers in primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) and to evaluate their impact on corneal sensitivity.

Methods: Forty eyes of 26 PCG patients were compared with 40 eyes randomly selected from 40 non-glaucoma patients who populated the control group. Central corneal sensitivity (CCS) was assessed by means of Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometry. The mean subbasal nerve density and the total number of nerve fibers were quantified by laser-scanning confocal microscopy. Normality of data was assessed by Kolmogorov-Smirnov testing. Differences in parameters were assessed with Student's t-test, while correlations with CSS were assessed with Pearson's correlation.

Results: Significant differences were identified in the mean subbasal nerve density (2108 ± 692 μm in PCG, 2642 ± 484 μm in controls, P = 0.003) and in the total number of nerve fibers (12.3 ± 4.2 in PCG, 15.4 ± 3.1 in controls, P = 0.02). Both groups presented comparable mean CCS and tortuosity. Both groups presented strong correlations between CCS and mean nerve density (r = 0.57 in PCG, r = 0.67 in controls, all P < 0.05), and between CCS and total number of nerve fibers (r = 0.55 in PCG, r = 0.56 in controls, all P < 0.05).

Conclusion: PCG exerts significant changes in both the mean subbasal nerve density and the total number of nerve fibers. However, these changes do not appear to affect central corneal sensitivity.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
LSCM of the cornea. Nerve fibers of the corneal subbasal nerve plexus in control cornea (a and b). Nerve fibers of the corneal subbasal nerve plexus in congenital glaucoma (c and d). Mean subbasal nerve density was significantly decreased in congenital glaucoma (2108±692 μm) compared with control cornea (2642±484 μm) (P=0.003, Student's t-test). The total number of nerve fibers in congenital glaucoma (12.3±4.2) was also significantly reduced compared with control cornea (15.4±3.1) (P=0.02, Student's t-test). Scale bar represents 100 μm.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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