Hieselaar L C, Hogeweg M, de Vries C L
Department of Ophthalmology, Academic Medical Hospital, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Br J Ophthalmol. 1995 Nov;79(11):993-5. doi: 10.1136/bjo.79.11.993.
In a quantitative prospective study the corneal sensation in patients with leprosy was compared with age matched controls.
The patients with leprosy were classified as paucibacillary and multibacillary and were divided in three groups: (1) patients without clinically detectable eye pathology; (2) patients with lagophthalmos, (3) patients with signs of iridocyclitis. The corneal sensitivity was assessed with the Cochet and Bonnet aesthesiometer.
There was a significant decrease in corneal sensitivity in multibacillary patients without clinically detectable eye pathology and in patients with lagophthalmos or iritis when compared with controls. A significant correlation between the loss of power of the orbicularis oculi muscle and the degree of corneal sensation loss could not be established. No significant decrease in corneal sensitivity was found in paucibacillary patients without eye pathology compared with the control group.
The results of this study showed that loss of corneal sensation can occur while there is no clinically detectable eye pathology, at least in multibacillary patients. Regular checkups of the corneal sensation should, therefore, be part of the routine control of leprosy patients. Health education on eye care and early warning signs should be encouraged.
在一项定量前瞻性研究中，将麻风病患者的角膜感觉与年龄匹配的对照组进行比较。
将麻风病患者分为少菌型和多菌型，并分为三组：（1）无临床可检测眼部病变的患者；（2）有兔眼的患者；（3）有虹膜睫状体炎体征的患者。用科谢和博内测痛计评估角膜敏感性。
与对照组相比，多菌型且无临床可检测眼部病变的患者、有兔眼或虹膜炎的患者角膜敏感性显著降低。睑轮匝肌力量丧失与角膜感觉丧失程度之间未发现显著相关性。与对照组相比，无眼部病变的少菌型患者角膜敏感性未显著降低。
本研究结果表明，至少在多菌型患者中，在无临床可检测眼部病变时也可能发生角膜感觉丧失。因此，定期检查角膜感觉应成为麻风病患者常规检查的一部分。应鼓励开展眼部护理和早期预警信号的健康教育。
