Abstract
Purpose: Cocaine abuse may cause severe ischemic and necrotic tissue damage in several organs, including the eye. However, the cornea is an avascular tissue relying on sensitive nerves for its trophic support, and the pathogenesis of cocaine-induced corneal lesions is unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate if corneal sensitivity, ocular surface, and tear function are damaged by habitual cocaine snorting. Methods: Ocular examination, corneal sensitivity, and tear function testing were carried out in 48 cocaine addicts, and in 22 heroin addicts and 30 drug-free age/sex-matched individuals who served as controls. We also performed corneal confocal microscopy, conjunctival impression cytology, and tear sample collection to evaluate corneal and conjunctival morphology, and the presence of cocaine in tears. Statistical analysis was performed to compare groups and to correlate clinical findings with anamnestic data on cocaine use. Results: We observed decreased corneal sensitivity in 26 cocaine addicts, and neurotrophic keratitis in six of them, with corneal damage, absence of symptoms, reduced tear production, and prolonged interblink-time. No significant changes in ocular surface parameters including corneal sensitivity were observed in heroin addicts. The major risk factors for developing cocaine-induced neurotrophic keratitis appeared to be duration and frequency of drug abuse. Conclusions: A complete ophthalmic evaluation including corneal sensitivity testing should be planned for an optimal management of cocaine addicts, even in the absence of ocular symptoms, to reduce the risk of corneal lesions and consequent vision impairment. Sensory nerve damage should also be evaluated in cocaine-induced lesions of other organs.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 765-772 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology |
| Volume | 253 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - May 1 2015 |
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Keywords
- Cocaine
- Cornea
- Corneal sensitivity
- Dry eye
- Neurotrophic keratitis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ophthalmology
- Sensory Systems
- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
- Medicine(all)
Cite this
Cocaine snorting may induce ocular surface damage through corneal sensitivity impairment. / Mantelli, Flavio; Lambiase, Alessandro; Sacchetti, Marta; Orlandi, Valerio; Rosa, Alba; Casella, Pietro; Bonini, Stefano.
In: Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, Vol. 253, No. 5, 01.05.2015, p. 765-772.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Cocaine snorting may induce ocular surface damage through corneal sensitivity impairment
AU - Mantelli, Flavio
AU - Lambiase, Alessandro
AU - Sacchetti, Marta
AU - Orlandi, Valerio
AU - Rosa, Alba
AU - Casella, Pietro
AU - Bonini, Stefano
PY - 2015/5/1
Y1 - 2015/5/1
N2 - Purpose: Cocaine abuse may cause severe ischemic and necrotic tissue damage in several organs, including the eye. However, the cornea is an avascular tissue relying on sensitive nerves for its trophic support, and the pathogenesis of cocaine-induced corneal lesions is unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate if corneal sensitivity, ocular surface, and tear function are damaged by habitual cocaine snorting. Methods: Ocular examination, corneal sensitivity, and tear function testing were carried out in 48 cocaine addicts, and in 22 heroin addicts and 30 drug-free age/sex-matched individuals who served as controls. We also performed corneal confocal microscopy, conjunctival impression cytology, and tear sample collection to evaluate corneal and conjunctival morphology, and the presence of cocaine in tears. Statistical analysis was performed to compare groups and to correlate clinical findings with anamnestic data on cocaine use. Results: We observed decreased corneal sensitivity in 26 cocaine addicts, and neurotrophic keratitis in six of them, with corneal damage, absence of symptoms, reduced tear production, and prolonged interblink-time. No significant changes in ocular surface parameters including corneal sensitivity were observed in heroin addicts. The major risk factors for developing cocaine-induced neurotrophic keratitis appeared to be duration and frequency of drug abuse. Conclusions: A complete ophthalmic evaluation including corneal sensitivity testing should be planned for an optimal management of cocaine addicts, even in the absence of ocular symptoms, to reduce the risk of corneal lesions and consequent vision impairment. Sensory nerve damage should also be evaluated in cocaine-induced lesions of other organs.
AB - Purpose: Cocaine abuse may cause severe ischemic and necrotic tissue damage in several organs, including the eye. However, the cornea is an avascular tissue relying on sensitive nerves for its trophic support, and the pathogenesis of cocaine-induced corneal lesions is unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate if corneal sensitivity, ocular surface, and tear function are damaged by habitual cocaine snorting. Methods: Ocular examination, corneal sensitivity, and tear function testing were carried out in 48 cocaine addicts, and in 22 heroin addicts and 30 drug-free age/sex-matched individuals who served as controls. We also performed corneal confocal microscopy, conjunctival impression cytology, and tear sample collection to evaluate corneal and conjunctival morphology, and the presence of cocaine in tears. Statistical analysis was performed to compare groups and to correlate clinical findings with anamnestic data on cocaine use. Results: We observed decreased corneal sensitivity in 26 cocaine addicts, and neurotrophic keratitis in six of them, with corneal damage, absence of symptoms, reduced tear production, and prolonged interblink-time. No significant changes in ocular surface parameters including corneal sensitivity were observed in heroin addicts. The major risk factors for developing cocaine-induced neurotrophic keratitis appeared to be duration and frequency of drug abuse. Conclusions: A complete ophthalmic evaluation including corneal sensitivity testing should be planned for an optimal management of cocaine addicts, even in the absence of ocular symptoms, to reduce the risk of corneal lesions and consequent vision impairment. Sensory nerve damage should also be evaluated in cocaine-induced lesions of other organs.
KW - Cocaine
KW - Cornea
KW - Corneal sensitivity
KW - Dry eye
KW - Neurotrophic keratitis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84939946362&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84939946362&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00417-015-2938-x
DO - 10.1007/s00417-015-2938-x
M3 - Article
C2 - 25644620
AN - SCOPUS:84939946362
VL - 253
SP - 765
EP - 772
JO - Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology
JF - Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology
SN - 0721-832X
IS - 5
ER -