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Corneal confocal microscopy alterations in Sjögren's syndrome dry eye
Author(s) -
Lanza Michele,
Iaccarino Stefania,
Varricchi Gilda,
D'Errico Tito,
Gironi Carnevale Ugo Antonello,
Bifani Mario
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/aos.13194
Subject(s) - medicine , ophthalmology , confocal microscopy , confocal , cornea , pathology , optics , physics
Purpose To evaluate light backscattering (LB) in corneal layers in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome dry eye (SSDE) utilizing in vivo corneal confocal microscopy (IVCM) and to determine the eventual association with the lacrimal functional test values. Methods A complete ophthalmic evaluation, Schirmer test with and without stimulation, break‐up time (BUT) and IVCM were performed on 55 patients affected by SSDE and in an age‐ and sex‐matched cohort of healthy participants (HP). Light backscattering, measures as light reflectivity unit (LRU), detected by IVCM at Bowman's membrane (BM) at 50 μ m, at 100 μ m and at 200 μ m deeper than BM was compared in the two groups. The correlations between LB values and lacrimal function results were evaluated. Results In patients affected by SSDE, LB was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in each corneal layer examined (+14 ± 6.33 LRU at BM), compared with HP. A good reverse correlation between the light reflectivity measures at BM with Schirmer test with ( r = −0.91) and without ( r = −0.90) stimulation and BUT ( r = −0.88) was found. Correlations were lower in the deeper corneal layers. Conclusion Even if our results should be confirmed in further studies with a larger population, these findings show that IVCM is a device able to detect alterations in corneal layers in SSDE patients related to the lacrimal function. Light backscattering (LB) could be very useful for clinical diagnosis and management of SSDE.