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Confocal microscopy measures lifestyle effects on cornea
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HONOLULU — Using corneal confocal microscopy, lifestyle factors can be associated with density of epithelial cells and corneal nerves in young, healthy women, according to a poster presented here at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting.
Whereas it is not unusual to use corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) to measure corneal parameters in disease states, it is less studied in healthy eyes, Karen Edwards, PhD, told Healio.com/OSN.
Edwards and colleagues at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia,
assessed the effects of lifestyle factors and dry eye signs and symptoms on CCM measures in 26 participants over three phases of the menstrual cycle – follicular, ovulation, luteal.
Lifestyle factors of sleep, exercise and use of cosmetics were associated with ocular surface parameters as measured by CCM, but there was no association between CCM and dry eye symptoms. The finding was likely due to the mildness of the dry eye symptoms in the study group, according to the authors.
CCM is currently being used to assess the cellular level of the cornea in certain small-fiber neuropathies, such as diabetic peripheral neuropathy, so it follows that further understanding of the factors affecting corneal nerve parameters would improve the diagnostic capabilities of CCM, Edwards said. – by Patricia Nale, ELS
Reference: Edwards K, et al. The effect of menstrual cycle, lifestyle factors and dry eye signs and symptoms on in vivo corneal confocal microscopy measures. Presented at: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology annual meeting; April 28-May 3, 2018; Honolulu.
Disclosure: Edwards reports no relevant financial disclosures.