Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 20, 2026
Corneal Sensitivity Testing Procedure for Ophthalmologic and Optometric Patients
Published on: August 2, 2024
Morphology of corneal nerves and corneal sensation in dry eye: a preliminary study
B M Hoşal1, N Ornek, G Zilelioğlu
1Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University, Mamak, Ankara, Turkey.
Purpose:
To evaluate the corneal sensitivity and nerve morphology in dry eyes.
Methods:
A total of 32 eyes of 16 patients (10 Sjogren's syndrome and six non-Sjogren's syndrome) and 19 eyes of 10 age-matched controls were studied. Sensitivity of the central cornea was measured by the Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometer. The morphology of corneal nerves was studied by in vivo confocal microscopy (ConfoScan 2.0, Fortune Technologies Srl, Vigonza (PD), Italy). Sub-basal epithelial nerve plexus, subepithelial nerve plexus, and stromal nerves were localized and evaluated for the number of nerves, thickness, reflectivity, and tortuosity for each frame.
Results:
The mean corneal sensitivity of dry eye patients (5.6 mm/grs/S) was found significantly lower than that of the control (5.0 mm/grs/S) group (P<0.01). Although the subepithelial nerves were thicker in dry eyes (mean: 6.38+/-1.18 microm) than control eyes (mean: 5.72+/-1.27 microm), this difference was not significant (P>0.05).
Conclusion:
Decreased corneal sensitivity is not associated with morphological changes of corneal nerves in dry eyes.
