title: Analysis of corneal morphologic and pathologic changes in early-stage congenital aniridic keratopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine typical corneal changes of congenital aniridic keratopathy (CAK) using corneal topography and confocal systems, and to identify characteristics that might assist in early diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with CAK and healthy control subjects underwent detailed ophthalmic examinations including axial length, corneal thickness, tear film condition, corneal topography, and laser-scanningin vivoconfocal microscopy (IVCM).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In early stage aniridic keratopathy, Schirmer I test (SIT), break-up time (BUT), mean keratometry (mean K) and simulated keratometry (sim K) were reduced relative to controls (P<0.05), while simulation of corneal astigmatism (sim A) and corneal thickness were increased (P<0.05). In addition, significantly more eyes exhibited flat cornea compared with the control group. Inflammatory dendritic cells were present in the aniridic epithelium, with significantly increased density relative to controls (P<0.05). Palisade ridge-like features and abnormal cell morphology were observed in six out of sixteen CAK cases. In central cornea area, the aniridic corneas had the increased subbasal nerve density.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These changes in corneal morphology in borderline situations can be useful to confirm the diagnosis of CAK.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the First People's Hospital of Shunde, Nanfang Medical University, Foshan 528300,Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Department of ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi Province Clinical Ophthalmology Institute, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China; Postgraduate College, the Third hospital Affiliated of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510000, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Rong-Qiang
authors.initials: RQ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi Province Clinical Ophthalmology Institute, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the First People's Hospital of Shunde, Nanfang Medical University, Foshan 528300,Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Hui
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the First People's Hospital of Shunde, Nanfang Medical University, Foshan 528300,Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Feng-Tu
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi Province Clinical Ophthalmology Institute, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi Province Clinical Ophthalmology Institute, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Lin-Hong
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Department of ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi Province Clinical Ophthalmology Institute, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shao
keywords: aniridic keratopathy; confocal microscopy; corneal topography