Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2025
Author Spotlight: Establishing a Practical and Cost-Effective Protocol for Corneal Sensitivity Testing in Clinical Settings
Published on: August 2, 2024
Establishing Normative Data for Pediatric Corneal Sensitivity
Pelin Akçay1, Pelin Kiyat2, Timur Köse1
1Departments of Ophthalmology and Biostatistics, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
Insights
This study establishes normal corneal sensitivity values for children aged 5-18 using the Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer. Findings show sensitivity decreases with age but is consistent across corneal regions and genders.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neuroscience
- Pediatric Medicine
Background:
- Corneal sensitivity data is established in adults, aiding in diagnosing conditions like diabetic neuropathy.
- Normative data for corneal sensitivity in pediatric populations is currently lacking in existing literature.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define normative data for corneal sensitivity in the pediatric age group.
- To establish a baseline for pediatric corneal sensitivity using the Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer.
Main Methods:
- 122 children (aged 5-18) without ocular pathologies or prior ocular surgery underwent routine ophthalmological examinations.
- Corneal sensitivity was measured using a Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer across five corneal regions: central, superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal.
- Exclusion criteria included ocular pathologies, previous ocular surgery, contact lens use, and systemic diseases like diabetes mellitus.
Main Results:
- The mean corneal sensitivity values across all measured regions ranged from 5.16 ± 0.47 cm to 5.19 ± 0.48 cm.
- A negative correlation was observed between increasing age and corneal sensitivity in pediatric participants.
- No statistically significant differences in corneal sensitivity were found between different corneal quadrants or between genders (P > .05).
Conclusions:
- This study pioneers the establishment of normative corneal sensitivity data for the pediatric age group.
- The findings contribute valuable diagnostic information for pediatric eye care and neurological assessments.
- The Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer is confirmed as a reliable tool for assessing pediatric corneal sensitivity.
Purpose:
To define the normative data of corneal sensitivity in the pediatric age group, which currently lacks existing literature.
Methods:
The study included 122 children aged 5 to 18 years who had applied for a routine ophthalmological examination at the Ege University Department of Ophthalmology. A total of 122 right eyes were included in the study. The study excluded children with any ocular pathologies, any previous ocular surgery, a history of contact lens use, and systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus. Corneal sensitivity values were determined by means of a Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer, applied to five distinct regions of the cornea (central, superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal).
Results:
The mean age was 11.29 ± 4.6 years (range: 2 to 18 years), and the female/male ratio was 63/59. The mean corneal sensitivity values of the central cornea and four corneal regions (superior, inferior, temporal, and nasal) were 5.16 ± 0.47, 5.16 ± 0.48, 5.19 ± 0.47, 5.18 ± 0.46, and 5.18 ± 0.45 cm, respectively. A negative correlation was identified between age and corneal sensitivity. No statistically significant difference was observed in corneal sensitivity when comparing quadrants or genders (P > .05).
Conclusions:
Data delineating the typical values have been identified in adults and have been demonstrated to serve as a valuable diagnostic instrument, particularly in the context of neuropathy in diabetes. Nevertheless, to date, no normative data have been published for the pediatric age group. Therefore, this study makes a significant contribution to the field by pioneering the establishment of normative data for the pediatric age group regarding corneal sensitivity, as detected with the Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer.
