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Abstract #56216 Published in IGR 16-1
Corneal sensitivity and morphology of the corneal subbasal nerve plexus in primary congenital glaucoma
Gatzioufas Z; Labiris G; Hafezi F; Schnaidt A; Pajic B; Langenbucher A; Seitz BEye 2014; 28: 466-471
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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Classification:
9.1.1 Congenital glaucoma, Buphthalmos (Part of: 9 Clinical forms of glaucomas > 9.1 Developmental glaucomas)
2.2 Cornea (Part of: 2 Anatomical structures in glaucoma)
