Establishing Normative Data for Pediatric Corneal Sensitivity.

PURPOSE: To define the normative data of corneal sensitivity in the pediatric age group, which currently lacks existing literature.

METHODS

The study included 122 children aged 5 to 18 years who had applied for a routine ophthalmological examination at the Ege University Department of Ophthalmology. A total of 122 right eyes were included in the study. The study excluded children with any ocular pathologies, any previous ocular surgery, a history of contact lens use, and systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus. Corneal sensitivity values were determined by means of a Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer, applied to five distinct regions of the cornea (central, superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal).

RESULTS

The mean age was 11.29 ± 4.6 years (range: 2 to 18 years), and the female/male ratio was 63/59. The mean corneal sensitivity values of the central cornea and four corneal regions (superior, inferior, temporal, and nasal) were 5.16 ± 0.47, 5.16 ± 0.48, 5.19 ± 0.47, 5.18 ± 0.46, and 5.18 ± 0.45 cm, respectively. A negative correlation was identified between age and corneal sensitivity. No statistically significant difference was observed in corneal sensitivity when comparing quadrants or genders (P > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Data delineating the typical values have been identified in adults and have been demonstrated to serve as a valuable diagnostic instrument, particularly in the context of neuropathy in diabetes. Nevertheless, to date, no normative data have been published for the pediatric age group. Therefore, this study makes a significant contribution to the field by pioneering the establishment of normative data for the pediatric age group regarding corneal sensitivity, as detected with the Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer.