The Change of Corneal Sensitivity and Recovery of Corneal Nerve after Cataract Surgery.
- Author:
Yong Min KIM
1
;
Sun Woong KIM
;
Tae Im KIM
;
Eung Kwon KIM
;
Kyung Ryul SEO
Author Information
1. The Institute of Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. seoky@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Cataract surgery;
Confocal microscopy;
Corneal sensitivity;
Subbasal nerve density
- MeSH:
Cataract*;
Humans;
Microscopy, Confocal;
Nerve Fibers;
Regeneration;
Sensation
- From:Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society
2007;48(1):13-18
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: To compare corneal sensitivity and recovery of corneal innervations after a temporal clear corneal incision in cataract surgery. METHODS: We measured changes to corneal sensitivity using Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer in 25 eyes of 20 patients and analyzed corneal nerve density with confocal microscopy in 20 eyes of 20 patients who had undergone cataract surgery. The parameters were measured before, and at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after cataract surgery. RESULTS: The mean preoperative corneal sensitivity was 56.40+/-3.39 mm at the temporal corneal incision site, and there was a significantly decreased sensitivity of 29.80+/-2.69 mm and 42.40+/-4.36 mm postoperatively at 1 week and 1 month, respectively. Nonetheless, by three months, corneal sensitivity had returned to 56.00+/-2.89 mm and was not significantly different from measurements prior to the cataract surgery. The mean preoperative subbasal nerve density was 5296+/-1642 micrometer/mm2. After cataract surgery, the subbasal nerve density was significantly reduced to 4113+/-1421, 3555+/-1448, 4198+/-1239 micrometer/mm2 at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Corneal sensitivity after cataract surgery returned to near preoperative levels within 3 months before complete restoration of normal corneal innervations. Therefore, regeneration of subbasal nerve fibers (, as determined by confocal microscopy,) requires more time than the return of corneal sensation after cataract surgery.
