Caiyuan Xie1, Bo Liu2, Xiaoyu Zhao1, Qing He1, Lin Liu1, Ruihua Wei3. 1. Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Fukang Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, China. 2. Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China. 3. Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Fukang Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, China. rwei@tmu.edu.cn.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To analyse and quantify ocular surface parameters in patients with unilateral neurotrophic keratitis (NK) induced by trigeminal nerve injury post-neurosurgery. METHODS: The study included 26 unilateral NK patients who had undergone neurosurgery, and 20 matched normal controls. Demographic and clinical characteristics of all participants were collected and analysed. Slit-lamp examination, Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometry, Keratograph 5 M, and LipiView interferometer were performed on both eyes of 17 mild NK patients. For nine moderate/severe NK patients, sub-basal nerve density was measured by in vivo confocal microscopy. RESULTS: Of the 26 patients, nine had acoustic neuroma, nine had trigeminal neuralgia, and eight had neoplasms. Facial nerve paralysis was observed in one of the 17 mild NK eyes (5.9%) and seven of the nine moderate/severe NK eyes (77.8%). Compared to contralateral and normal control eyes, 26 NK eyes showed significantly reduced sensitivity in five corneal regions (P < 0.05). Corneal sensitivity in moderate/severe NK eyes was significantly lower than in mild NK eyes (P < 0.05). Moderate/severe NK eyes had poor visual acuity, and their sub-basal nerve density was lower than that of the controls. The onset of the moderate/severe NK was from 0.5 to 24 months (median [Q1, Q3], 1 [0.5, 2.5] months) after neurosurgery. For the mild NK eyes, the number of total blinks, the first non-invasive tear breakup time (NITBUT) and average NITBUT were significantly lower than contralateral and normal control eyes (P < 0.05), and the number of partial blinks and partial blinking rate were significantly higher than the other two control groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with NK induced by trigeminal nerve injury following neurosurgery had decreased corneal sensitivity to various degrees accompanied by increased partial blinks and shortened NITBUT. The severity of NK is related to the severity of the corneal sensory impairment. Facial nerve paralysis can worsen the clinical progression of NK. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100044068, Date of Registration: March 9, 2021).
PURPOSE: To analyse and quantify ocular surface parameters in patients with unilateral neurotrophic keratitis (NK) induced by trigeminal nerve injury post-neurosurgery. METHODS: The study included 26 unilateral NK patients who had undergone neurosurgery, and 20 matched normal controls. Demographic and clinical characteristics of all participants were collected and analysed. Slit-lamp examination, Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometry, Keratograph 5 M, and LipiView interferometer were performed on both eyes of 17 mild NK patients. For nine moderate/severe NK patients, sub-basal nerve density was measured by in vivo confocal microscopy. RESULTS: Of the 26 patients, nine had acoustic neuroma, nine had trigeminal neuralgia, and eight had neoplasms. Facial nerve paralysis was observed in one of the 17 mild NK eyes (5.9%) and seven of the nine moderate/severe NK eyes (77.8%). Compared to contralateral and normal control eyes, 26 NK eyes showed significantly reduced sensitivity in five corneal regions (P < 0.05). Corneal sensitivity in moderate/severe NK eyes was significantly lower than in mild NK eyes (P < 0.05). Moderate/severe NK eyes had poor visual acuity, and their sub-basal nerve density was lower than that of the controls. The onset of the moderate/severe NK was from 0.5 to 24 months (median [Q1, Q3], 1 [0.5, 2.5] months) after neurosurgery. For the mild NK eyes, the number of total blinks, the first non-invasive tear breakup time (NITBUT) and average NITBUT were significantly lower than contralateral and normal control eyes (P < 0.05), and the number of partial blinks and partial blinking rate were significantly higher than the other two control groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with NK induced by trigeminal nerve injury following neurosurgery had decreased corneal sensitivity to various degrees accompanied by increased partial blinks and shortened NITBUT. The severity of NK is related to the severity of the corneal sensory impairment. Facial nerve paralysis can worsen the clinical progression of NK. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100044068, Date of Registration: March 9, 2021).
Authors: F Semeraro; E Forbice; V Romano; M Angi; M R Romano; M E Filippelli; R Di Iorio; C Costagliola Journal: Ophthalmologica Date: 2013-10-02 Impact factor: 3.250