RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Age-related changes of human conjunctiva on in vivo confocal microscopy
JF British Journal of Ophthalmology
JO Br J Ophthalmol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.
SP 1448
OP 1453
DO 10.1136/bjo.2008.155820
VO 94
IS 11
A1 Wenqing Zhu
A1 Jiaxu Hong
A1 Tianyu Zheng
A1 Qihua Le
A1 Jianjiang Xu
A1 Xinghuai Sun
YR 2010
UL http://bjo.bmj.com/content/94/11/1448.abstract
AB Aims To analyse age-related changes of human conjunctiva by in vivo laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM).Methods 80 healthy subjects were enrolled and divided into four groups according to age: A (0–19 years), B (20–39 years), C (40–59 years) and D (over 60 years). In vivo LSCM was performed on the subjects' bulbar conjunctivas, and the images were recorded. The morphology and densities of conjunctival epithelial cells, goblet cells (GCs), dendritic cells (DCs) and the positive rate of conjunctival microcysts were analysed. The diameters of subepithelial fibres in each group were measured as well.Results The morphology and the densities of both conjunctival epithelial cells and GCs showed no significant age-related differences. The positive rates of conjunctival microcysts were 30% (6/20), 50% (10/20), 60% (12/20) and 75% (15/20) in each group, showing a substantial increase with age (p=0.035). The densities of DCs decreased significantly with ageing (p=0.033). The diameters of subepithelial fibres reduced with age significantly also (p=0.000).Conclusions The age-related changes of conjunctivas included decreasing densities of DCs as well as the degeneration of subepithelial structures. Even though no significant changes in GCs densities could be seen in the different age groups, the increasing rates of conjunctival microcysts indicated that the cellular function of GCs declined while ageing.