PURPOSE: To study, by a new, integrated, laser scanning confocal microscopy approach, the ocular surface morpho-functional unit in patients with primary Sjogren syndrome (SSI), non-Sjogren syndrome dry eye (non-SSDE), and meibomian gland disease (MGD). METHODS: Patients and age- and sex-matched control subjects (N = 60; 15 each) were consecutively enrolled in a prospective case-control study. Laser scanning confocal microscopy was used to obtain simultaneous optical sampling of the ocular surface components: cornea, bulbar and tarsal conjunctiva, MGs, and eyelid margin. RESULTS: For all superficial epithelia, except eyelid margins, there were reduced cell densities in each group compared with that in controls (p < 0.001). The lowest cell densities were in the SSI group (p < 0.001). Eyelid margin superficial cell density was decreased only in MGD (p < 0.001). Basal epithelial cell density at the corneal apex was increased in both SSI and non-SSDE compared with that in controls (p < 0.01). In the conjunctiva, it was decreased in each group compared with that in controls (p < 0.01). Subbasal dendritic cell density was significantly increased in both SSI and MGD compared with that in controls (p < 0.01). Conjunctival inflammatory cell density and MG inflammation were increased in each group compared with those in controls (p < 0.001), with the highest values in SSI. Subbasal nerve plexi had fewer fibers and higher bead density in each group compared with those in controls (p < 0.001). There was increased tortuosity in both SSI and MGD (p < 0.001). Patients with MGD had the lowest MG acinar density, the largest diameter of acini and acinar orifices, and the highest secretion reflectivity (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Laser scanning confocal microscopy can provide an in vivo, noninvasive, high-resolution overview of the ocular surface morpho-funcional unit. This confocal integrated approach may be useful in both research and clinical settings.
In vivo confocal evaluation of the ocular surface morpho-functional unit in dry eye / E. Villani, F. Magnani, F. Viola, A. Santaniello, R. Scorza, P. Nucci, R. Ratiglia. - In: OPTOMETRY AND VISION SCIENCE. - ISSN 1040-5488. - 90:6(2013 Jun), pp. 576-586.
Titolo: | In vivo confocal evaluation of the ocular surface morpho-functional unit in dry eye |
Autori: | VILLANI, EDOARDO (Primo) MAGNANI, FABRIZIO (Secondo) NUCCI, PAOLO (Penultimo) RATIGLIA, ROBERTO (Ultimo) |
Settore Scientifico Disciplinare: | Settore MED/30 - Malattie Apparato Visivo |
Data di pubblicazione: | giu-2013 |
Rivista: | |
Tipologia: | Article (author) |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI): | http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/OPX.0b013e318294c184 |
Appare nelle tipologie: | 01 - Articolo su periodico |
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