Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the stromal corneal nerves morphology and thickness in eyes without ocular or systemic pathology.
Methods: :
50 eyes of 25 were examined with the confocal microscope (Confoscan 4, Fortune Technologies, Italy), a central scan of the total corneal thickness was taken in every exam. Corneal stromal nerves morphology and thickness were evaluated by using Navis v. 3.5.0. Software (NIDEK, Multi-Instrument Diagnostic System, Japan). Nerve thickness was obtained from the mean between the widest and the narrowest portion of each nerve.
Results: :
Corneal stromal nerves were observed as irregular linear hiper-reflective structures with widest and narrowest portions. Mean corneal stromal nerves thickness was 5.9 ± 1.7 microns, range from 3.4 to 10.5 microns.
Conclusions: :
It is possible to evaluate corneal stromal nerves morphology and thickness by using confocal microscopy in vivo.
Keywords: anatomy • cornea: stroma and keratocytes • cornea: clinical science