Noncontact esthesiometer may offer easier method of measuring corneal sensitivity
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Key takeaways:
- A novel esthesiometer was used to measure corneal sensitivity in patients taking hypotensive medications.
- The device may offer a convenient option to measure corneal sensitivity in patients with glaucoma.
NEW ORLEANS — Patients who used hypotensive medications had reduced corneal sensitivity measured via a noncontact esthesiometer, according to a poster presentation at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting.
“I think the advantage of this device is that it is portable, handheld and easy to use,” Marta Villalba, MD, told Healio/OSN.
Villalba and colleagues analyzed corneal sensitivity with a noncontact handheld air jet esthesiometer in 46 eyes of 23 patients who used topical hypotensive medications and 33 eyes of 21 healthy participants. Three measurements at each device level were taken in the lower quadrant of the cornea, according to the poster, and tear meniscus height, noninvasive tear breakup time and corneal staining were measured via a keratography test.
In the glaucoma group, corneal sensitivity was 6.6 ± 2.8 mbar compared with 3.2 ± 1.4 mbar in the control group. After adjustment, glaucoma patients had significantly reduced corneal sensation (P = .02).
Corneal staining values were higher in glaucoma patients compared with control participants (P = .04). Noninvasive tear breakup time scores (P = .005) and tear meniscus height values (P = .01) were significantly lower in the glaucoma group compared with controls.
“In clinical practice, we don’t use esthesiometry because the devices can be difficult to use,” Villalba said. “We think that this device could be in every clinic and used in seconds to check if a patient has normal or abnormal sensitivity.”
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Villalba M, et al. Changes in corneal sensitivity measured with a novel noncontact esthesiometer in glaucoma patients. Presented at: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting; April 23-27, 2023; New Orleans.
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