Ocular Surface Alterations in the Context of Corneal In Vivo Confocal Microscopic Characteristics in Patients With Fibromyalgia

Purpose: To quantify the morphology of corneal basal epithelium and subbasal nerves and to evaluate the ocular surface alterations in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). Methods: Patients with FM (n = 34) and healthy controls (n = 42) were enrolled. All participants underwent ocular surface tests in the following order: corneal sensitivity, tear film breakup time, lissamine green staining, Schirmer test, and the Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire. Basal epithelial cells and subbasal nerves were evaluated using in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM). Demographic characteristics, Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VAS), American College of Rheumatology 1990, the Widespread Pain Index (WPI), and the Symptom Impact Questionnaire (SIQR) scores of patients with FM were obtained. Results: Corneal sensitivity was 0.4 g/mm2 (fiber length: 6.0 cm) in all eyes. Patients with FM had a higher Ocular Surface Disease Index (42.2 ± 18.9 vs. 1.2 ± 1.7, P
Source: Cornea - Category: Opthalmology Tags: Clinical Science Source Type: research