Abstract：
CONCLUSIONS: Central corneal epithelial thinning associated with midperipheral epithelial thickening has been reported as the main factor contributing to the effectiveness of orthokeratology (ortho-k) in myopia control. Yet, the cellular mechanism governing the regional change in refractive power remains elusive.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between the regional change in corneal epithelial thickness and cell density in ortho-k wearers.
METHODS: A new human prototype of a polarization-dependent optical coherence microscope was developed to enable noncontact and noninvasive in vivo imaging of corneal epithelial cells in ortho-k wearers with and without their ortho-k lens. The epithelial thickness and cell density were evaluated at the central and midperipheral corneal locations in four ortho-k wearers and four spectacle wearers serving as controls.
RESULTS: Polarization-dependent optical coherence microscope achieved in vivo volumetric imaging of all epithelial cell types in ortho-k wearers with and without their lens over a field of view of 0.5 × 0.5 mm 2 with an isotropic resolution of ~2.2 mm. The central epithelial thinning and midperipheral epithelial thickening were consistent across all ortho-k wearers. However, the inconsistency in their regional epithelial cell density highlighted a great variability in individual response to ortho-k treatment. There was no strong correlation between epithelial thickness and cell density, especially at the midperipheral cornea, in ortho-k participants.
CONCLUSIONS: This study constitutes our first step toward uncovering the cellular mechanism underlying the effectiveness of ortho-k in myopia control. Future studies will focus on the longitudinal evaluation of epithelial cells before and during ortho-k treatment to identify factors governing individual response to ortho-k treatment and ultimately inform the dynamics of epithelial cells taking place during the ortho-k treatment.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between the regional change in corneal epithelial thickness and cell density in ortho-k wearers.
METHODS: A new human prototype of a polarization-dependent optical coherence microscope was developed to enable noncontact and noninvasive in vivo imaging of corneal epithelial cells in ortho-k wearers with and without their ortho-k lens. The epithelial thickness and cell density were evaluated at the central and midperipheral corneal locations in four ortho-k wearers and four spectacle wearers serving as controls.
RESULTS: Polarization-dependent optical coherence microscope achieved in vivo volumetric imaging of all epithelial cell types in ortho-k wearers with and without their lens over a field of view of 0.5 × 0.5 mm 2 with an isotropic resolution of ~2.2 mm. The central epithelial thinning and midperipheral epithelial thickening were consistent across all ortho-k wearers. However, the inconsistency in their regional epithelial cell density highlighted a great variability in individual response to ortho-k treatment. There was no strong correlation between epithelial thickness and cell density, especially at the midperipheral cornea, in ortho-k participants.
CONCLUSIONS: This study constitutes our first step toward uncovering the cellular mechanism underlying the effectiveness of ortho-k in myopia control. Future studies will focus on the longitudinal evaluation of epithelial cells before and during ortho-k treatment to identify factors governing individual response to ortho-k treatment and ultimately inform the dynamics of epithelial cells taking place during the ortho-k treatment.
摘要：
结论：据报道，角膜中央上皮变薄与中周上皮增厚相关是角膜塑形术（ortho-k）控制近视有效性的主要因素。然而，控制屈光力区域变化的细胞机制仍然难以捉摸。
目的：本研究旨在评估角膜上皮厚度的区域变化与细胞密度之间的相关性。
方法：开发了一种偏振依赖性光学相干显微镜的新人体原型，可以对有或没有正k晶状体的正k佩戴者进行角膜上皮细胞的非接触式和非侵入性体内成像。在四名正k佩戴者和四名作为对照的眼镜佩戴者的中央和中央角膜位置评估了上皮厚度和细胞密度。
结果：偏振依赖性光学相干显微镜可在0.5×0.5mm2的视野范围内对带有和不带有晶状体的直位佩戴者的所有上皮细胞类型进行体内体积成像。各向同性分辨率为〜2.2mm。中央上皮变薄和中周上皮增厚在所有正穿着者中一致。然而,区域上皮细胞密度的不一致突出了个体对正k治疗的反应的巨大差异。上皮厚度与细胞密度之间没有很强的相关性，尤其是在角膜中部，在正交k参与者中。
结论：这项研究是我们揭示近视控制中ortho-k有效性的细胞机制的第一步。未来的研究将集中于在正k治疗之前和期间对上皮细胞的纵向评估，以确定控制个体对正k治疗反应的因素，并最终告知在正k治疗期间发生的上皮细胞的动态。
目的：本研究旨在评估角膜上皮厚度的区域变化与细胞密度之间的相关性。
方法：开发了一种偏振依赖性光学相干显微镜的新人体原型，可以对有或没有正k晶状体的正k佩戴者进行角膜上皮细胞的非接触式和非侵入性体内成像。在四名正k佩戴者和四名作为对照的眼镜佩戴者的中央和中央角膜位置评估了上皮厚度和细胞密度。
结果：偏振依赖性光学相干显微镜可在0.5×0.5mm2的视野范围内对带有和不带有晶状体的直位佩戴者的所有上皮细胞类型进行体内体积成像。各向同性分辨率为〜2.2mm。中央上皮变薄和中周上皮增厚在所有正穿着者中一致。然而,区域上皮细胞密度的不一致突出了个体对正k治疗的反应的巨大差异。上皮厚度与细胞密度之间没有很强的相关性，尤其是在角膜中部，在正交k参与者中。
结论：这项研究是我们揭示近视控制中ortho-k有效性的细胞机制的第一步。未来的研究将集中于在正k治疗之前和期间对上皮细胞的纵向评估，以确定控制个体对正k治疗反应的因素，并最终告知在正k治疗期间发生的上皮细胞的动态。
