Abstract
Purpose:
To determine the role of corneal sensitivity and tear functions on the prognosis of eyes with post-traumatic recurrent corneal erosion syndrome (RCES).
Methods:
Between 2006 and 2011, 39 eyes of 39 patients with unilaterally RCES and a history of ocular surface trauma were followed. Routine examinations (best-corrected visual acuity [BCVA], intraocular pressure [IOP], slit-lamp biomicroscopy), corneal sensitivity measurements (Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometry) and tear function tests (tear film break up time [TFBUT] and Schirmer test with anesthesia [STA]) were performed at time points of months 1, 3, and 6. The inclusion criteria were patients with at least two episode of ocular surface trauma before recruitment, a minimal follow-up of two years, and final visual acuity better than 20/40. The exclusion criteria were patients with prior interventions before visits, presumed neuropathy, dry eye syndrome, and meibomian gland dysfunction. Depending on the number of recurrence during follow-up, patients were divided into the study (> 2) or control (≤ 2) groups. For respective groups, comparison of corneal sensitivity and tear functions between the diseased and fellow eyes within each patient was demonstrated as a time course analysis.
Results:
After exclusion of 8 patients, 31 patients were enrolled and divided into the study group (n=14) and control group (n=17). Mean age of the patients was 40.3 ± 12.2 years, while mean follow-up was 28.0 ± 3.6 months. At time points 1 (month 1 to month 3) and 2 (month 3 to month 6), both corneal sensitivity and tear functions were significantly reduced in diseased eyes from both groups. However, at point 3 (month 6 to month 12), tear functions were still significantly reduced in diseased eyes from both groups, while corneal sensitivity was only significantly reduced in diseased eyes from the study group but appeared statistically similar between diseased and fellow eyes from the control group.
Conclusions:
Recovery of corneal sensitivity is related to reduction of recurrence in eyes with post-traumatic RCES.