AIM: To describe and compare corneal sensation and morphological changes of sub-basal corneal nerves by in vivo laser scanning confocal microscopy(LSCM) in herpes simplex virus(HSV) keratitis/uveitis and contralateral...AIM: To describe and compare corneal sensation and morphological changes of sub-basal corneal nerves by in vivo laser scanning confocal microscopy(LSCM) in herpes simplex virus(HSV) keratitis/uveitis and contralateral, clinically unaffected eyes. METHODS: A prospective clinical study included 30 HSV eyes and 30 contralateral eyes of 30 patients, diagnosed with unilateral HSV keratitis/uveitis. Both eyes underwent a complete ophthalmological examination, Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometry and LSCM of the central cornea, using the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph III Rostock Cornea Module. After 6 mo, the same examination of the HSV affected and contralateral, clinically unaffected eyes was performed.RESULTS: HSV eyes, as compared to contralateral eyes, demonstrated a significant decrease in mean corneal sensation(3.1±1.6 vs 5.3±0.8 cm), total nerve fibres number(5.7±4.4 vs 15.1±5.4), nerve branches(3.4±3.0 vs 8.4±4.7), main nerve trunks(2.3±1.6 vs 5.8±2.2), and nerve fibres density(7.5±5.6 vs 18.1±5.3 mm/mm2, P<0.05). There was no significant difference between keratitis and uveitis eyes in mean corneal sensation and nerve fibres parameters. After 6 mo, corneal sensation and sub-basal nerve fibres parameters were increased significantly, but did not reach the parameters of contralateral, clinically unaffected eyes.CONCLUSION: Corneal aesthesiometry and LSCM in HSV affected eyes reveals a significant decrease of corneal sensation and sub-basal nerve fibres which recovers at6 mo but does not reach the normal level.展开更多
文摘AIM: To describe and compare corneal sensation and morphological changes of sub-basal corneal nerves by in vivo laser scanning confocal microscopy(LSCM) in herpes simplex virus(HSV) keratitis/uveitis and contralateral, clinically unaffected eyes. METHODS: A prospective clinical study included 30 HSV eyes and 30 contralateral eyes of 30 patients, diagnosed with unilateral HSV keratitis/uveitis. Both eyes underwent a complete ophthalmological examination, Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometry and LSCM of the central cornea, using the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph III Rostock Cornea Module. After 6 mo, the same examination of the HSV affected and contralateral, clinically unaffected eyes was performed.RESULTS: HSV eyes, as compared to contralateral eyes, demonstrated a significant decrease in mean corneal sensation(3.1±1.6 vs 5.3±0.8 cm), total nerve fibres number(5.7±4.4 vs 15.1±5.4), nerve branches(3.4±3.0 vs 8.4±4.7), main nerve trunks(2.3±1.6 vs 5.8±2.2), and nerve fibres density(7.5±5.6 vs 18.1±5.3 mm/mm2, P<0.05). There was no significant difference between keratitis and uveitis eyes in mean corneal sensation and nerve fibres parameters. After 6 mo, corneal sensation and sub-basal nerve fibres parameters were increased significantly, but did not reach the parameters of contralateral, clinically unaffected eyes.CONCLUSION: Corneal aesthesiometry and LSCM in HSV affected eyes reveals a significant decrease of corneal sensation and sub-basal nerve fibres which recovers at6 mo but does not reach the normal level.
