ABSTRACT
Background Radiofrequency thermocoagulation is one of the effective therapies for trigeminal neuralgia.Corneal nerve is important substance of radiofrequency thermocoagulation ocular surface,which support the normal structure and function of cornea.Most of corneal nerves come from ophthalmic branch of trigeminal nerve.However,the change of ocular surface microenvironment following radiofrequency thermocoagulation treatment in the patient with trigeminal neuralgiais unclear.Objective This study was to analyze ocular surface change after radiofrequency thermocoagulation therapy in patients with trigeminal neuralgia.Methods Twenty-eight eyes of 28patients with trigeminal neuralgia underwent radiofrequency thermocoagulation therapy were enrolled in this study.The contralateral eyes were regarded as the control group.The central corneal sensitivity,function of lacrimal secretion (Schiemer 1 test),tear break-up time(BUT),corneal fluorescence staining and laser scanning confocal microscopic examination were performed before and after surgery in operative eyes and compared with the fellow eye.Informed consent was obtained before any relevant medical procedure from each patient.Results No significant differences was found before surgery in the central corneal sensitivity,the Schiemer Ⅰ test,BUT,corneal fluorescence staining and densities value of corneal subepithelial nerve plexus between the treating eyes and fellow eyes(Z =-1.511,-1.119,-0.428,-0.378,-0.854; P =0.131,0.263,0.669,0.705,0.393).1n the third day after radiofrequencythermocoagulation therapy,compared with pre-treatment,no significant differences were seen in BUT result,Schirmer Ⅰ test and the score of ocular surface fluorescence staining (Z =-0.620,-0.315,-1.732;P =0.535,0.753,0.083).Corneal sensitivity and subbasal nerve density were lowed 3 days after surgery (Z =-2.708,-2.813 ; P =0.007,0.005).One month after treatment,differences of all indexes mentioned above showed statistical significance between treating eyes and fellow eyes(Z=-3.888,-2.373,-3.311,-2.535 ; P =0.000,0.018,0.001,0.011).The corneal subepithelial nerve was thinner and sparse and dendritic cells on the cornea were found in the eyes received radiofrequency thermocoagulation therapy.Conclusions The secretion of tears and the stability of tear film are poorer and the corneal sensitivity and subbasal nerve density are affected in a certain extent in the eye received radiofrequency thermocoagulation therapy.