April 2010
Volume 51, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   April 2010
In vivo Corneal Confocal Microscopy Study in Climatic Droplet Keratopathy
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • H. M. Serra
    Bioquimica Clinica, CIBICI, Fac ultad de Cs Quimicas UNC, Cordoba, Argentina
  • J. Croxatto
    Ophthalmic Pathology, Fundacion Oftalmol Argentina J Malbran, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • T. A. Cafaro
    Bioquimica Clinica, CIBICI, Fac ultad de Cs Quimicas UNC, Cordoba, Argentina
  • F. Espósito
    Dept Ophthalmology, University Clinic Reina Fabiola, Universidad Católica de Córdoba, Cordoba, Argentina
  • J. Holopainen
    Department of Ophthalmology, University of Helsinki,, Helsinki, Finland
  • W. Neira-Zalentein
    Department of Ophthalmology, University of Helsinki,, Helsinki, Finland
  • M. Fornies
    Dept Ophthalmology, University Clinic Reina Fabiola, Universidad Católica de Córdoba, Cordoba, Argentina
  • J. Urrets-Zavalía
    Dept Ophthalmology, University Clinic Reina Fabiola, Universidad Católica de Córdoba, Cordoba, Argentina
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  H.M. Serra, None; J. Croxatto, None; T.A. Cafaro, None; F. Espósito, None; J. Holopainen, None; W. Neira-Zalentein, None; M. Fornies, None; J. Urrets-Zavalía, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support  FONCYT PICT 38052; CONICET PIP 112-200801-01455
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science April 2010, Vol.51, 5650. doi:
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      H. M. Serra, J. Croxatto, T. A. Cafaro, F. Espósito, J. Holopainen, W. Neira-Zalentein, M. Fornies, J. Urrets-Zavalía; In vivo Corneal Confocal Microscopy Study in Climatic Droplet Keratopathy. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2010;51(13):5650.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Purpose: : Climatic droplet keratopathy (CDK) is a degenerative disease of the cornea characterized by its slowly progressive opacity. A high prevalence of this disease has been found in a rural region of Argentine Patagonia. The aim of this study was to analyze corneal abnormalities in patients with CDK using in vivo confocal microscopy (CFM).

Methods: : Three male patients with different grades of CDK underwent corneal studies including slit-lamp biomicroscopy, Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometry and CFM. Axial images from different corneal layers as well as the peripheral and limbal areas were obtained.

Results: : Early stages showed reflective punctiform deposits in the basement membrane and Bowman’s layer. A diffuse mild back-scattered reflectivity was observed in the superficial stroma. The subepithelial nerve plexus was found to be normal. In moderate and advanced stages there was increased reflectivity of the surface corneal epithelium and condensation of the punctiform deposits. The deposits masked the subepithelial nerve plexus. At these stages hyperreflective round deposits were seen within the anterior stroma. The stromal nerves were abnormal. In later stages, there were subepithelial stromal hyperreflective plaques, activated keratocytes and peripheral vascularization, and the nerves were markedly reduced. Corneal sensitivity correlated well with corneal compromise because the more advanced the disease, the more profound the corneal hypoesthesia.

Conclusions: : CFM showed a progression of anterior cornea subepithelial and stromal deposits from early to advanced stages of CDK. Progressive damage of the sub-basal and stromal nerves fibers may lead to changes in corneal sensitivity.

Keywords: cornea: clinical science • cornea: stroma and keratocytes • imaging/image analysis: clinical 
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