In vivo Confocal Microscopic Evaluation of Previously Neglected Oval Cells in Corneal Nerve Vortex: An Inflammatory Indicator of Dry Eye Disease

Frontiers in Medicine

article

Dalan Jing¹  Xiaodan Jiang¹  Yilin Chou³  Shanshan Wei⁴  Ran Hao¹  Jie Su¹  Xuemin Li¹ 

[1] Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University Third Hospital;Beijing Key Laboratory of Restoration of Damaged Ocular Nerve, Peking University Third Hospital;Department of Ophthalmology, BenQ Medical Center, The Affiliated BenQ Hospital of Nanjing Medical University;Beijing Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Key Laboratory, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University

关键词: dry eye disease (DED);    corneal vortex;    Langerhans cells;    in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM);    artificial intelligence (AI);   

DOI  :  10.3389/fmed.2022.906219

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

This study aimed to investigate the association of between previously neglected oval cells located in the corneal vortex and dry eye disease (DED). This was an observational, prospective study involving 168 patients with different degrees of DED. In vivo confocal microscopy was used to observe the corneal subbasal nerves and Langerhans cells (LCs) in the corneal vortex and periphery. Bright and oval cells were also observed in the corneal vortex. An artificial intelligence technique was used to generate subbasal nerve fiber parameters. The patients were divided into the three groups based on the presence of inflammatory cells. Group 2 patients showed a significant increase in the corneal peripheral nerve maximum length and average corneal peripheral nerve density. Patients in group 3 had more LCs than other patients. A bright and oval cell was identified in the corneal vortex, which might be a type of immature LC related to the disease severity of DED.

【 授权许可】

CC BY