Abstract：
Scleral lenses (SLs) rest on the scleroconjunctival region, which could result in a mechanical impact in the bulbar conjunctiva that can hypothetically modify some properties of conjunctival cells.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences in goblet cell density (GCD) and mucin cloud amplitude (MCA) between superior and inferior bulbar conjunctiva in SL wearers.
A total of 26 eyes wearing SL were randomly selected from 26 subjects (11 females) with different grades of keratoconus enrolled in a prospective clinical series. Superior and inferior conjunctival impression cytologies were performed and therefore analyzed with scanning laser confocal microscopy to evaluate GCD and MCA. All subjects filled out the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire.
The mean ± standard deviation OSDI score was 23.62 ± 15.12. Although a higher density of goblet cells was observed in the samples taken in the superior conjunctiva (74.70 ± 57.55 cells/mm) than on the inferior conjunctiva (55.91 ± 34.80 cells/mm), there were no statistically significant differences between them (P = .14, Wilcoxon). Regarding MCA, no differences were found between superior (21.81 ± 3.30 μm) and inferior (20.72 ± 2.95 μm) samples (P = .201, Wilcoxon). No statistically significant differences were found in GCD and MCA regarding the time of SL wear.
There were no differences in GCD and MCA in the samples taken in the superior and inferior conjunctival areas. Also, it seems that the SL wearing time does not affect the density and secretion of goblet cells. Prospective studies need to be conducted in larger samples to confirm those outcomes.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences in goblet cell density (GCD) and mucin cloud amplitude (MCA) between superior and inferior bulbar conjunctiva in SL wearers.
A total of 26 eyes wearing SL were randomly selected from 26 subjects (11 females) with different grades of keratoconus enrolled in a prospective clinical series. Superior and inferior conjunctival impression cytologies were performed and therefore analyzed with scanning laser confocal microscopy to evaluate GCD and MCA. All subjects filled out the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire.
The mean ± standard deviation OSDI score was 23.62 ± 15.12. Although a higher density of goblet cells was observed in the samples taken in the superior conjunctiva (74.70 ± 57.55 cells/mm) than on the inferior conjunctiva (55.91 ± 34.80 cells/mm), there were no statistically significant differences between them (P = .14, Wilcoxon). Regarding MCA, no differences were found between superior (21.81 ± 3.30 μm) and inferior (20.72 ± 2.95 μm) samples (P = .201, Wilcoxon). No statistically significant differences were found in GCD and MCA regarding the time of SL wear.
There were no differences in GCD and MCA in the samples taken in the superior and inferior conjunctival areas. Also, it seems that the SL wearing time does not affect the density and secretion of goblet cells. Prospective studies need to be conducted in larger samples to confirm those outcomes.
摘要：
巩膜晶状体（SLs）位于硬化结膜区域，这可能会导致球结膜的机械冲击，从而可能会改变结膜细胞的某些特性。
这项研究的目的是评估SL穿着者上和下球结膜之间杯状细胞密度（GCD）和粘蛋白云幅（MCA）的差异。
在前瞻性临床系列中，从26名患有不同级别圆锥角膜的受试者（11名女性）中随机选择了26只戴SL的眼睛。进行了上结膜和下结膜印模细胞学检查，因此用扫描激光共聚焦显微镜分析以评估GCD和MCA。所有受试者填写眼表疾病指数(OSDI)问卷。
平均±标准偏差OSDI评分为23.62±15.12。尽管在上结膜（74.70±57.55细胞/mm）采集的样品中观察到的杯状细胞密度高于下结膜（55.91±34.80细胞/mm），两组间差异无统计学意义(P=.14,Wilcoxon)。关于MCA,在上(21.81±3.30μm)和下(20.72±2.95μm)样品之间没有发现差异(P=.201,Wilcoxon).在SL磨损时间方面，GCD和MCA没有发现统计学上的显着差异。
在上结膜区域和下结膜区域采集的样品中GCD和MCA没有差异。此外，SL佩戴时间似乎不影响杯状细胞的密度和分泌。需要在更大的样本中进行前瞻性研究以确认这些结果。
这项研究的目的是评估SL穿着者上和下球结膜之间杯状细胞密度（GCD）和粘蛋白云幅（MCA）的差异。
在前瞻性临床系列中，从26名患有不同级别圆锥角膜的受试者（11名女性）中随机选择了26只戴SL的眼睛。进行了上结膜和下结膜印模细胞学检查，因此用扫描激光共聚焦显微镜分析以评估GCD和MCA。所有受试者填写眼表疾病指数(OSDI)问卷。
平均±标准偏差OSDI评分为23.62±15.12。尽管在上结膜（74.70±57.55细胞/mm）采集的样品中观察到的杯状细胞密度高于下结膜（55.91±34.80细胞/mm），两组间差异无统计学意义(P=.14,Wilcoxon)。关于MCA,在上(21.81±3.30μm)和下(20.72±2.95μm)样品之间没有发现差异(P=.201,Wilcoxon).在SL磨损时间方面，GCD和MCA没有发现统计学上的显着差异。
在上结膜区域和下结膜区域采集的样品中GCD和MCA没有差异。此外，SL佩戴时间似乎不影响杯状细胞的密度和分泌。需要在更大的样本中进行前瞻性研究以确认这些结果。
