Chang P.-Y.Carrel H.Huang J.-S.I-JONG WANGYU-CHIH HOUWEI-LI CHENWang J.-Y.FUNG-RONG HU2020-10-222020-10-2220060002-9394https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-33748881809&doi=10.1016%2fj.ajo.2006.04.033&partnerID=40&md5=4136151cc118c016b1269ad7691eb337https://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/517844Purpose: To define alterations in the density of corneal basal epithelium in relation to diabetic retinopathic severity and the alteration of corneal innervation using confocal microscopy. Design: Prospective case-control study. Methods: Forty-two type II diabetic patients stratified into nondiabetic (NDR), nonproliferative diabetic (NPDR), and proliferative diabetic (PDR) retinopathy and 14 age-matched healthy control subjects were studied. Epithelial and stromal cell densities and subbasal nerves were investigated by confocal microscopy. Results: Corneal basal epithelial cell density (P = .0001), nerve fiber density (NFD) (P < .0001), nerve branch density (NBD) (P = .0003), and tortuosity coefficient (Tc) (P < .0001) were significantly different among the four groups. Basal epithelial density was significantly correlated with NFD (r = 0.43, P = .0009), NBD (r = 0.36, P = .007), and TC (r = -0.58, P < .0001). Conclusions: Patients with diabetes show alterations in corneal innervations and basal epithelial cell density in different retinopathic stages. We demonstrate that reduced density in basal epithelial cell is correlated with changes in innervation. ? 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.[SDGs]SDG3adult; aged; article; cell density; clinical article; confocal microscopy; cornea epithelium; correlation analysis; diabetic retinopathy; female; human; human cell; male; priority journal; prospective study; stroma cell; case control study; cell count; cornea; cornea stroma; diabetic retinopathy; innervation; middle aged; non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus; ophthalmic nerve; pathology; Case-Control Studies; Cell Count; Cornea; Corneal Stroma; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Diabetic Retinopathy; Epithelium, Corneal; Female; Humans; Male; Microscopy, Confocal; Middle Aged; Ophthalmic Nerve; Prospective Studiesjournal article10.1016/j.ajo.2006.04.033169355962-s2.0-33748881809