Influence of Immune Cells on Corneal Nerve Morphological Analysis and Clinical Relevance in Diabetes-Related Dry Eye.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Corneal nerve morphology and immune cells are critical biomarkers in the ocular surface. This study aimed to investigate the influence of immune cells on corneal nerve morphology and the clinical significance in diabetes-related dry eye disease (DED).

Methods

In the first part, 1075 in vivo confocal microscopy images containing dendritic cells or round cells were included as system validation. Key morphological parameters, including corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD), corneal nerve branch density (CNBD), tortuosity, and box-count fractal dimension (Boxdim), were measured before and after immune cells were excluded. In the second part, a pilot cross-sectional study was conducted involving control (26 eyes), DED without diabetes mellitus (DM) (34 eyes), and DED with DM

SUBMITTER: Ma B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12302046 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature