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Roszkowska AM, Wylęgała A, Gargano R, Spinella R, Inferrera L, Orzechowska-Wylęgała B, Aragona P. Impact of corneal parameters, refractive error and age on density and morphology of the subbasal nerve plexus fibers in healthy adults. Sci Rep 2021; 11:6076. [PMID: 33727601 PMCID: PMC7966734 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85597-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to analyze corneal sub-basal nerve plexus (SBNP) density and morphology and their relationships with corneal parameters and refractive status. In this single center study, in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) was performed in 76 eyes of 38 healthy subjects aged 19–87 (mean age 34.987 ± 1.148). Nerve fiber analysis was performed using Confoscan 4 microscope with semi-automated software (Nidek Technologies, Italy) The nerve fiber length (NFL) µm/mm2, nerve fiber density (NFD) no./mm2, tortuosity coefficient (TC), and nerve beadings density (NBD) no./mm were considered. Relationship between SBNP parameters and corneal curvature, thickness, diameter, and refraction were analyzed. Additionally, the association with gender, laterality and age were determined. NFL was inversely correlated with age (r = − 0.528, p < 0.001), myopic refractive error (spherical value) (r = − 0.423, p < 0.001), and cylindrical power (r = − 0.340, p = 0.003). NFD was inversely correlated with age (r = − 0.420, p < 0.001) and myopic refractive error (r = − 0.341, p = 0.003). NBD showed a low inverse correlation with cylindrical power (r = − 0.287, p = 0.012) and a slight positive correlation with K (r = 0.230, p = 0.047). TC showed a significant negative correlation between age (r = − 0.500, p < 0.001) and myopic refractive error (r = − 0.351, p = 0.002). Additionally, there were strong positive correlations between NFL and NFD (r = 0.523, p < 0.001), NFL and TI (r = 0.603, p < 0.001), and NFD and TC (r = 0.758, p < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis revealed age to be the most significant factor affecting SBNP density (B = − 0.467, p = 0.013) and length (B = − 61.446, p < 0.001); myopic refractive error reduced both SBNP density (B = − 2.119, p = 0.011) and length (B = − 158.433, p = 0.016), while gender and laterality had no significant effects (p > 0.005). SBNP fiber length decreases with age, myopic refractive error and cylindrical power. SBNP fiber density reduces with age and myopic refractive error. Corneal nerve parameters are not influenced by gender or laterality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M Roszkowska
- Ophthalmology Clinic, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University Hospital of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98100, Messina, Italy.
| | - Adam Wylęgała
- Health Promotion and Obesity Management Unit, Pathophysiology Department, School of Medicine, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Romana Gargano
- Department of Economics, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Rosaria Spinella
- Ophthalmology Clinic, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University Hospital of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98100, Messina, Italy
| | - Leandro Inferrera
- Ophthalmology Clinic, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University Hospital of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98100, Messina, Italy
| | - Bogusława Orzechowska-Wylęgała
- Clinic of Otolaryngology, Head, Neck Surgery, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Pasquale Aragona
- Ophthalmology Clinic, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University Hospital of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98100, Messina, Italy
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In Vivo Confocal Microscopy and Anterior Segment Optic Coherence Tomography Findings in Ocular Ochronosis. Case Rep Ophthalmol Med 2016; 2015:592847. [PMID: 26788390 PMCID: PMC4693010 DOI: 10.1155/2015/592847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2015] [Revised: 11/20/2015] [Accepted: 11/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose. To report clinical and in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) findings of two patients with ocular ochronosis secondary due to alkaptonuria. Materials and Methods. Complete ophthalmologic examinations, including IVCM (HRT II/Rostock Cornea Module, Heidelberg, Germany), anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) (Topcon 3D spectral-domain OCT 2000, Topcon Medical Systems, Paramus, NJ, USA), corneal topography (Pentacam, OCULUS Optikgeräte GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany), and anterior segment photography, were performed. Results. Biomicroscopic examination showed bilateral darkly pigmented lesions of the nasal and temporal conjunctiva and episclera in both patients. In vivo confocal microscopy of the lesions revealed prominent degenerative changes, including vacuoles and fragmentation of collagen fibers in the affected conjunctival lamina propria and episclera. Hyperreflective pigment granules in different shapes were demonstrated in the substantia propria beneath the basement membrane. AS-OCT of Case 1 demonstrated hyporeflective areas. Fundus examination was within normal limits in both patients, except tilted optic discs with peripapillary atrophy in one of the patients. Corneal topography, thickness, and macular OCT were normal bilaterally in both cases. Conclusion. The degenerative and anatomic changes due to ochronotic pigment deposition in alkaptonuria can be demonstrated in detail with IVCM and AS-OCT. Confocal microscopic analysis in ocular ochronosis may serve as a useful adjunct in diagnosis and monitoring of the disease progression.
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Ali NQ, Patel DV, Lockington D, McGhee CNJ. Citation Analysis of Keratoconus 1900-2013: The Most Influential Publications, Authors, Institutions, and Journals. Asia Pac J Ophthalmol (Phila) 2014; 3:67-73. [PMID: 26107488 DOI: 10.1097/apo.0b013e3182a4cf92] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The objectives of this study were to identify the 250 most highly cited publications on keratoconus and to identify trends in topics and distinguish the most influential authors, journals, and institutions in the field. DESIGN This was a database study. METHODS The authors searched the Web of Science database using the keyword "keratoconus." The results were refined to articles and reviews only, years 1900 to 2013, and sorted by citation count. The 250 most cited, relevant publications to keratoconus were identified, and citation analysis of the authors, topics, journals, institutions, and countries was performed. RESULTS From the 3030 records identified, the most cited 250 publications were all published in the last 60 years. Publication numbers rose exponentially from the early 1960s, and citation rates have mirrored this. For the 250 most cited publications, the top 25 authors contributed to 60.2% (mean, 6.1 ± 2.3 publications per author), and the top 25 institutions contributed to 57.6%. The mean citation count per article was 80.7 ± 62.4. Twelve journal titles contained 89.2% of the 250 most cited articles, and greater than 47.6% of publications originated from the United States. The major subtopics were corneal transplantation (31.2%), diagnostic instruments (17.6%), and structural and molecular analyses (17.6%). CONCLUSIONS There has been an exponential increase in the body of knowledge on keratoconus in the last 60 years. This interest has been driven by refractive surgery related keratectasia, the emergence of better imaging technologies, and effective treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noor Q Ali
- From the Department of Ophthalmology, New Zealand National Eye Centre, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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