Corneal Sensation and Nerve Fiber Changes in Patients With Interstitial Cystitis

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Urology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Central sensitization syndromes link to ocular discomfort and corneal sensation changes.
• Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a condition characterized by bladder pain and urinary urgency.
• Understanding corneal alterations in IC may reveal systemic connections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate corneal sensory changes in patients diagnosed with interstitial cystitis (IC).
• To evaluate corneal nerve structure using in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) in IC patients.

Main Methods:

• Compared 30 IC patients with 32 healthy controls.
• Assessed corneal sensation, tear breakup time, Schirmer I test, and Ocular Surface Disease Index.
• Utilized in vivo corneal confocal microscopy (IVCM) to analyze corneal subbasal nerve plexus.

Main Results:

• IC patients exhibited significantly higher corneal sensation compared to controls.
• In vivo corneal confocal microscopy revealed significant reductions in corneal nerve fiber density, branch density, and length in IC patients.
• Tear breakup time, Schirmer I test, and Ocular Surface Disease Index scores did not differ significantly between groups.

Conclusions:

• Interstitial cystitis patients present with heightened corneal sensitivity and diminished corneal nerve fibers.
• Corneal nerve fiber loss may lower the threshold for peripheral sensitization, potentially initiating central sensitization.