Corneal epithelial thickness profile in dry-eye disease

PurposeTo optimise the objective diagnosis of dry eye disease (DED), the capabilities of wide corneal epithelial mapping using optical coherence tomography (OCT) were studied and subsequently integrated into a new scoring method.MethodsFifty-nine patients (118 eyes) with DED and 55 control subjects (110 eyes) were included. All patients underwent a complete ocular surface evaluation. Corneal epithelial thickness was collected using OCT for seven zones. DED and the control group were compared using a t-test, and univariate receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were calculated to define the diagnostic ability of OCT epithelial mapping. Multivariate analyses were performed using artificial intelligence (random forest) and logistic regression approaches to define the best way to integrate OCT mapping in the diagnosis of DED. Then, a final multivariable model for diagnosing DED was validated through a bootstrapping method.ResultsThe DED group had significant epithelial thinning compared with the controls, regardless of location. Superior intermediate epithelial thickness was the best marker for diagnosing DED using OCT (binormal estimated area under ROC: 0.87; best cut-off value: 50 µm thickness). The difference between the inferior and superior peripheral zones was the best marker for grading the severity of DED (analysis of variance, p=0.009). A multivariate approach identified other significant covariables which were integrated into a multivariate model to improve the sensitivity (86.4%) and specificity (91.7%) of this innovative diagnostic method.ConclusionIncluding OCT corneal epithelial mapping in a new diagnostic tool for DED could allow optimisation of the screening and staging of the disease in current practice as well as for clinical research purposes.

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Comparison of corneal epithelial thickness profile in dry eye patients, keratoconus suspect, and healthy eyes

European Journal of Ophthalmology ◽

10.1177/1120672120952034 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (6) ◽

pp. 1506-1511

Author(s):

Suzan Amana Rattan ◽

Didar Sddeq Anwar

Keyword(s):

Dry Eye ◽

Corneal Topography ◽

P Value ◽

Dry Eyes ◽

Corneal Epithelial ◽

Thickness Profile ◽

Epithelial Thickness ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Corneal Epithelial Thickness ◽

Healthy Eyes

Purpose: To compare the corneal epithelial thickness profile in patients with dry eyes and keratoconus suspect with normal healthy eyes. Methods: The study involved 120 eyes with an age range from 19 to 30 years. Forty eyes had normal corneal topography and no dry eyes. Forty eyes had dry eyes but had normal corneal topography. The last 40 eyes were keratoconus suspect and had no symptoms or signs of dry eyes. Results: Central epithelial thickness was not different statistically for all eyes. ( p-value: 0.1). The superior epithelial thickness was 53.5 µm ±3.1 in the control group, 53.4 µm ±3.5 in the dry eye group, and 53.6 µm ±2.8 in the keratoconus suspect group. No statistically significant difference was found ( p-value = 0.7). The inferior epithelial thickness was 55.7 µm ±3.5 in the control, 57.2 µm ±3.19 in the dry eyes, and 52.2 µm ±3.12 in the KC suspects. There was inferior thickening in the dry eyes and thinning in the KC suspects and this was statistically significant ( p-value < 0.01). Minimum epithelial thickness was 52.8 µm ±2.91 in the control and 53.2 µm ±3.51 in the dry eyes and it was located superiorly for both groups. In the KC suspects, the minimum thickness was 52.3 µm ±3.19 and was located inferiorly. Conclusion: In our study the epithelium appears to be thicker inferiorly in dry eyes and thinner in KC suspects. Displacement of thinnest location on epithelial map may be a helpful early sign of keratoconus. However, follow-up study is necessary to confirm the thinnest location displacement helped in this diagnosis.

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Corneal Epithelial Immune Dendritic Cell Alterations in Subtypes of Dry Eye Disease: A Pilot In Vivo Confocal Microscopic Study

Investigative Opthalmology & Visual Science ◽

10.1167/iovs.15-17433 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 56 (12) ◽

pp. 7179 ◽

Cited By ~ 55

Author(s):

Ahmad Kheirkhah ◽

Raheleh Rahimi Darabad ◽

Andrea Cruzat ◽

Amir Reza Hajrasouliha ◽

Deborah Witkin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dendritic Cell ◽

Microscopic Study ◽

Dry Eye ◽

Dry Eye Disease ◽

Eye Disease ◽

Corneal Epithelial ◽

Cell Alterations ◽

Confocal Microscopic Study

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Assessment of Corneal Epithelial Thickness in Dry Eye Patients

Optometry and Vision Science ◽

10.1097/opx.0000000000000417 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 91 (12) ◽

pp. 1446-1454 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

Xinhan Cui ◽

Jiaxu Hong ◽

Fei Wang ◽

Sophie X. Deng ◽

Yujing Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dry Eye ◽

Corneal Epithelial ◽

Epithelial Thickness ◽

Corneal Epithelial Thickness

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Corneal Epithelial Thickness Profile in Healthy Portuguese Children by High-Definition Optical Coherence Tomography

Clinical Ophthalmology ◽

10.2147/opth.s293695 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol Volume 15 ◽

pp. 735-743

Author(s):

Tomás de Oliveira Loureiro ◽

Sandra Rodrigues-Barros ◽

Diogo Lopes ◽

Ana Rita Carreira ◽

Filipe Gouveia-Moraes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Optical Coherence Tomography ◽

Optical Coherence ◽

High Definition ◽

Corneal Epithelial ◽

Thickness Profile ◽

Epithelial Thickness ◽

Corneal Epithelial Thickness

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Achyranthis radix Extract Improves Urban Particulate Matter-Induced Dry Eye Disease

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16183229 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (18) ◽

pp. 3229 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Tae Gu Lee ◽

Soo-Wang Hyun ◽

Kyuhyung Jo ◽

Bongkyun Park ◽

Ik Soo Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Particulate Matter ◽

Dry Eye ◽

Water Extract ◽

Dry Eye Disease ◽

Hot Water ◽

Eye Disease ◽

Corneal Epithelial ◽

Urban Particulate Matter ◽

Eye Health ◽

Induced Apoptosis

Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial inflammatory disease that severely impairs patients’ quality of life. Particulate matter comprises a harmful mixture of particles less than 10 μm in size, which on contact with the eye, causes inflammation in the cornea/conjunctival epithelium, threatening eye health and triggering the onset of DED. Achyranthis radix is an ingredient of traditional medicine generally used for treating osteoporosis, trauma, and thrombosis in Asian countries. However, the effect of Achyranthis radix on eye health has not been elucidated. In this study, we evaluate the protective effect of Achyranthis radix hot water extract (ARE) in a rat model of urban particulate matter (UPM)-induced DED. UPM with or without ARE were topically administered on both eyes thrice daily for 10 days. ARE induced tear secretion and improved corneal irregularity. Additionally, ARE treatment protected the corneal epithelial cells from UPM-induced apoptosis. It also restored rMuc4 expression in the cornea and increased goblet cell density in the conjunctiva. These results are suggestive of the potential of ARE as a topical therapeutic agent for treating DED.

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Corneal Epithelial Remodeling and Its Effect on Corneal Asphericity after Transepithelial Photorefractive Keratectomy for Myopia

Journal of Ophthalmology ◽

10.1155/2016/8582362 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Jie Hou ◽

Yan Wang ◽

Yulin Lei ◽

Xiuyun Zheng ◽

Ying Zhang

Keyword(s):

Refractive Surgery ◽

Positive Relationship ◽

Photorefractive Keratectomy ◽

Corneal Epithelial ◽

Thickness Profile ◽

Epithelial Thickness ◽

Corneal Asphericity ◽

Epithelial Remodeling ◽

Corneal Epithelial Thickness ◽

Value Changes

Purpose.To evaluate the changes in epithelial thickness profile following transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (T-PRK) for myopia and to investigate the effect of epithelial remodeling on corneal asphericity.Methods.Forty-four patients (44 right eyes) who underwent T-PRK were retrospectively evaluated. Epithelial thickness was measured using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography at different corneal zones (central, 2 mm; paracentral, 2–5 mm; and mid-peripheral, 5-6 mm) preoperatively and at 1 week and 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. The correlation between the changes in corneal epithelial thickness (ΔCET) and postoperativeQ-value changes (ΔQ) was analyzed 6 months postoperatively.Results.Epithelial thickness at 6 months showed a negative meniscus-like lenticular pattern with less central thickening, which increased progressively toward the mid-periphery (3.69±4.2,5.19±3.8, and6.23±3.9 μm at the center, paracenter, and mid-periphery, resp.,P<0.01). A significant positive relationship was observed between epithelial thickening and ΔQ 6 months postoperatively (r=0.438, 0.580, and 0.504, resp.,P<0.01).Conclusions.Significant epithelial thickening was observed after T-PRK and showed a lenticular change with more thickening mid-peripherally, resulting in increased oblateness postoperatively. Epithelial remodeling may modify the epithelial thickness profile after surface ablation refractive surgery for myopia.

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Antioxidant Effects of the Prenylated Flavonoid, Xanthohumol, on Corneal Epithelial Cells in Experimental Dry Eye Disease

10.20944/preprints202104.0222.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Anita Kirti Ghosh ◽

Rubina Thapa ◽

Harsh Nilesh Hariani ◽

Michael Volyanyuk ◽

Karoline Anne Orloff ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Epithelial Cells ◽

Dry Eye ◽

Ocular Surface ◽

Dry Eye Disease ◽

Eye Disease ◽

Related Factor ◽

Corneal Epithelial Cells ◽

Corneal Epithelial

Elevated levels of oxidative stress in the corneal epithelium contribute to the progression of dry eye disease pathology. Previous studies have shown that antioxidant therapeutic intervention is a promising avenue to reduce disease burden and slow disease progression. In this study, we evaluated the pharmacological efficacy of Xanthohumol in preclinical models for dry eye disease. Xanthohumol is a naturally occurring prenylated chalconoid that promotes the transcription of phase II antioxidant enzymes. Xanthohumol exerted a dose-response in preventing tert-butylhydroxide-induced loss of cell viability in human corneal epithelial (HCE-T) cells and resulted in a significant increase in expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), the master regulator of the endogenous antioxidant system. Xanthohumol-encapsulating poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (PLGA NP) were cytoprotective against oxidative stress in vitro, and significantly reduced corneal fluorescein staining in the mouse desiccating stress/ scopolamine model for dry eye disease in vivo by reducing oxidative stress-associated DNA damage in corneal epithelial cells. PLGA NP represent a safe and efficacious drug delivery vehicle for hydrophobic small molecules to the ocular surface. Optimization of NP-based antioxidant formulations with the goal to minimize instillation frequency may represent future therapeutic options for dry eye disease and related ocular surface disease.

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