Changes in Langerhans cells and the structure of corneal nerve fibers in patients with glaucoma according in vivo confocal microscopy

    Abstract

    Changes in Langerhans cells and the structure of corneal nerve fibers in patients with glaucoma according in vivo confocal microscopy

    S.E. Avetisov, V.V. Strahov, Z.V. Surnina, A.A. Popova, A.A. Gamidov

    Research Institute Of Eye Disease, Moscow
Sechenov University, Ophthalmology Department, Moscow
Yaroslavsk State Medical University Of The Ministry Of Health Of The Russian Federation, Yaroslavl

    The most important tasks of preventing blindness and low vision in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) are its early diagnosis and quality monitoring in order to stabilize the glaucoma process.

    Purpose. To analyze the state of Langerhans inflammatory cells and the structure of corneal nerve fibers in patients with POAG.

    Material and methods. The study included 46 patients. The main group - 26 patients (52 eyes) aged 39 to 80 years - diagnosed with POAG stages I-IV. Control group - 20 patients (40 eyes) - ophthalmologically healthy volunteers with a normal level of intraocular pressure (IOP) and no signs of POAG at the age from 36 to 72 years. Patients underwent: visometry, biomicroscopy of the anterior segment of the eye, ophthalmoscopy, gonioscopy, contour tonometry using the Pascal method, optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the optic nerve discs (Zeiss Stratus 3000) and confocal microscopy of the cornea (CMR) (HRT III, Rostock Cornea Module).

    Results. In patients with POAG, according to CMR data, structural changes were revealed in the layer of nerve fibers of the cornea, and abnormalities in the structure and number of inflammatory macrophages (Langerhans cells) were also identified. The interocular asymmetry of CNF was investigated in patients with different stages of glaucoma in paired eyes.

    Conclusion. Аnalyzing the structure of corneal nerve fibers and Langerhans cells can be used as a diagnostic algorithm in patients with POAG.

    Key words: glaucoma, confocal microscopy, corneal nerve fibers, Langerhans cells, optical coherence tomography.