Abstract
Purpose :
To evaluate subbasal corneal nerve density and corneal sensation in acute desiccating stress model of dry eye disease.
Methods :
Twenty 8-week-old female thy-YFP mice were used in this study. Ten mice were placed in desiccating environment (humidity 10%) and the other ten in normal conditions for a period of 4 weeks. Dry eye was assessed with Aqueous tear production and cornea fluorescein score. Stereo fluorescence microscopy was used to obtain serial images of nerves and Cornea sensation measured by modified electronic Von Frey Anesthesiometer.
Results :
Aqueous tear production was significantly decreased after 4 weeks (618+/- 264mm Vs 1738 +/- 492 mm) and cornea fluorescein score was increased (10.7 +/- 2.1 Vs 2.5 +/- 1.8). There was a decrease in corneal sensation in desiccating environment group (12.2 +/- 3.4mg Vs 4.1 +/- 1.1mg) and no difference was observed in subbasal nerve density after 4 weeks.
Conclusions :
There is no correlation between subbasal corneal nerve density and corneal sensation loss in acute desiccating stress model of murine dry eye disease.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2017 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Baltimore, MD, May 7-11, 2017.