Ophthalmology Clinic, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University Hospital of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98100, Messina, Italy.
Health Promotion and Obesity Management Unit, Pathophysiology Department, School of Medicine, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
Sci Rep. 2021 Mar 16;11(1):6076. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-85597-5.
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/mm, nerve fiber density (NFD) no./mm, 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.
本研究旨在分析角膜基底层神经纤维丛（SBNP）的密度和形态及其与角膜参数和屈光状态的关系。在这项单中心研究中，对 38 名年龄在 19-87 岁（平均年龄 34.987 ± 1.148）的健康受试者的 76 只眼进行了共焦显微镜检查。使用 Nidek Technologies（意大利）的 Confoscan 4 显微镜和半自动软件进行神经纤维分析。考虑神经纤维长度（NFL）µm/mm、神经纤维密度（NFD）no./mm、扭曲系数（TC）和神经珠密度（NBD）no./mm。分析了 SBNP 参数与角膜曲率、厚度、直径和屈光不正之间的关系。此外，还确定了与性别、侧别和年龄的关系。NFL 与年龄呈负相关（r = -0.528，p < 0.001），与近视屈光误差（球镜值）（r = -0.423，p < 0.001）和圆柱力（r = -0.340，p = 0.003）呈负相关。NFD 与年龄呈负相关（r = -0.420，p < 0.001），与近视屈光误差呈负相关（r = -0.341，p = 0.003）。NBD 与圆柱力呈低度负相关（r = -0.287，p = 0.012），与 K 呈轻微正相关（r = 0.230，p = 0.047）。TC 与年龄呈显著负相关（r = -0.500，p < 0.001），与近视屈光误差呈负相关（r = -0.351，p = 0.002）。此外，NFL 与 NFD 之间存在很强的正相关（r = 0.523，p < 0.001），NFL 与 TI 之间存在很强的正相关（r = 0.603，p < 0.001），NFD 与 TC 之间存在很强的正相关（r = 0.758，p < 0.001）。多元回归分析显示，年龄是影响 SBNP 密度（B = -0.467，p = 0.013）和长度（B = -61.446，p < 0.001）的最显著因素；近视屈光误差降低了 SBNP 密度（B = -2.119，p = 0.011）和长度（B = -158.433，p = 0.016），而性别和侧别没有显著影响（p > 0.005）。SBNP 纤维长度随年龄、近视屈光误差和圆柱力而降低。SBNP 纤维密度随年龄和近视屈光误差降低。角膜神经参数不受性别或侧别影响。
