Primary Changes in Corneal Nerve Fiber Structure in Patients with Primary Glaucoma and Related Influencing Factors.

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the primary changes in corneal nerve fiber structure and its influencing factors in patients with primary glaucoma.

Method: A retrospective analysis was conducted in this study. A total of 51 patients with primary glaucoma who were diagnosed and treated in our hospital from March 2020 to March 2022 were selected as the research objects and designated as the glaucoma group. In addition, 51 patients with normal eyes were chosen as the control group. The characteristic changes of corneal nerve fibers, the thickness of the nerve fiber layer, and the number of ganglion cell complexes and dendritic cells were measured. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the influencing factors of ganglion fiber structure change.

Result: Compared with the control group, the length of corneal nerve fibers and the density of corneal nerve fibers in the glaucoma group were significantly shortened, the number of branches was significantly reduced, the curvature was significantly increased, and the number of dendritic cells was significantly increased (P <0.05). Compared with the control group, the thickness of the upper, lower, nasal, temporal, and peripheral nerve fiber layers in the glaucoma group was obviously reduced (P <0.05). Compared with the control group, the thickness of the above inferior, nasal, temporal, and peripheral nerve fiber layers in the glaucoma group was significantly reduced (P <0.05). Compared with the control group, the above, below, and mean ganglion cell complex thickness in the glaucoma group was significantly reduced (P <0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that intraocular pressure and the number of dendritic cells were risk factors for ganglion fiber structure change. In contrast, nerve fiber layer thickness and ganglion cell complex were protective factors for ganglion fiber structure change (P <0.05).

Conclusion: There were primary changes in the structure of corneal nerve fibers in patients with primary glaucoma, which were more slender, tortuous, and sparse, and the primary changes in nerve fiber structure could be affected by intraocular pressure, the number of dendritic cells, the thickness of the nerve fiber layer, and the ganglion cell complex.