Evaluation of corneal microstructure in keratoconus: a confocal microscopy study.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the corneal microstructure in patients with manifest keratoconus (KCN), subclinical KCN, and topographically normal relatives of patients with KCN and in healthy controls.


METHODS
Prospective and cross-sectional study.


METHODS
We enrolled 145 subjects in the study. The participants were divided into 4 groups, based on clinical and topographical evaluation: the manifest KCN group (n = 30), the subclinical KCN group (n = 32), the KCN relatives group (n = 53), and the control group (n = 30). Corneal microstructure was assessed by corneal in vivo confocal microscopy in all of the individuals. Mean outcome measures were basal epithelial cell density, endothelial cell density, anterior keratocyte density, posterior keratocyte density, sub-basal nerve density, sub-basal nerve diameter, and stromal nerve diameter.


RESULTS
The mean basal epithelial cell density, endothelial cell density, and sub-basal nerve diameter were not significantly different among the 4 groups (P = 0.057, P = 0.592, and P = 0.393, respectively). The mean anterior and posterior stromal keratocyte densities were significantly lower in the manifest group, in the subclinical group, and in the relatives group when compared with the control group (for both parameters; P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P< 0.001, respectively). The mean stromal nerve diameter in the manifest group, subclinical group, and relatives group was significantly higher than in the control group (P = 0.001, P = 0.049, and P = 0.004, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The anterior and posterior stromal keratocyte densities were statistically lower and stromal nerve diameter was statistically higher in patients with manifest KCN, subclinical KCN, and topographically normal KCN relatives compared with controls. Confocal microscopy may be useful for the determination of early corneal microstructural changes before manifestation of typical or subtle topographic signs.
Department of Ophthalmology, Beyoglu Eye Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Engin Bilge
EB
Ozgurhan
Necip
N
Kara
Aydin
A
Yildirim
Ercument
E
Bozkurt
Hasim
H
Uslu
Ahmet
A
Demirok
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002452:Cell Count; D002648:Child; D060527:Corneal Keratocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000294:innervation*; D019781:Corneal Topography; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology*; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult