title: Corneal sensitivity and tear function in neurodegenerative diseases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure corneal sensitivity and tear function in neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) and to compare them with age and sex-matched controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), 20 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), 30 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), 10 patients with Friedreich's ataxia (FA) and 21 patients with epilepsy (EP) who were recruited from the Kırıkkale University Neurology Department during 2012 were included in this prospective study. Five groups of age and sex-matched subjects were selected as controls. Corneal sensitivity was measured using a Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer. Tear function tests included tear break-up time (TBUT) and Schirmer's 1 tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to their controls, mean corneal sensitivity was significantly reduced in AD, MS, PD and EP patients (all p < 0.05), mean TBUT level was significantly shorter in patients with AD and MS (all p < 0.05) and mean Schirmer's 1 test score was significantly lower in EP patients (p < 0.05). When all groups were compared with each other, reduction of mean corneal sensitivity in AD and PD groups were significantly more than in FA and MS groups (overall p = 0.034). Mean TBUT levels in AD, MS and PD groups were significantly shorter than in FA and EP groups (overall p = 0.001). Mean Schirmer's 1 test scores in AD and PD groups were significantly lower than in MS, FA and EP groups (overall p = 0.040).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neurodegenerative diseases may be associated with reduced corneal sensitivity and abnormal tear function.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology and.
authors: Nurgül
authors: N
authors: Örnek
authors: Ersel
authors: E
authors: Dağ
authors: Kemal
authors: K
authors: Örnek
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003315:Cornea / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007766:Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013666:Tears / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Corneal sensitivity; neurodegenerative diseases; tear function