Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32663518›Full record

ArticleThe ocular surface2020

Visualization of microneuromas by using in vivo confocal microscopy: An objective biomarker for the diagnosis of neuropathic corneal pain?

Hamid-Reza Moein, Anam Akhlaq, Gabriela Dieckmann, Alessandro Abbouda, Nicholas Pondelis, Zeina Salem, Rodrigo T Müller, Andrea Cruzat, Bernardo M Cavalcanti, Arsia Jamali and 1 more

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The ocular surface, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 48 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
48citing papers in PubMed
6.5field-weighted citation impact, top 3% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

48 citing papers in PubMed, 74 citations in OpenAlex.

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  10. Electrotherapy in the management of neuropathic corneal pain: narrative review.Experimental biology and medicine (Maywood, N.J.) · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Hamid-Reza MoeinCenter for Translational Ocular Immunology and, USA; Cornea Service, New England Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
Anam AkhlaqCenter for Translational Ocular Immunology and, USA; Cornea Service, New England Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
Gabriela DieckmannCenter for Translational Ocular Immunology and, USA; Cornea Service, New England Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
Alessandro AbboudaCenter for Translational Ocular Immunology and, USA; Cornea Service, New England Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
Nicholas PondelisCenter for Translational Ocular Immunology and, USA.
Zeina SalemCenter for Translational Ocular Immunology and, USA; Cornea Service, New England Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
Rodrigo T MüllerCenter for Translational Ocular Immunology and, USA; Cornea Service, New England Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
Andrea CruzatOcular Surface Imaging Center, Cornea and Refractive Surgery Service, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Bernardo M CavalcantiOcular Surface Imaging Center, Cornea and Refractive Surgery Service, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Arsia JamaliCenter for Translational Ocular Immunology and, USA; Cornea Service, New England Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
Pedram HamrahCenter for Translational Ocular Immunology and, USA; Cornea Service, New England Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Ocular Surface Imaging Center, Cornea and Refractive Surgery Service, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: Phamrah@tuftsmedicalcenter.org.
Tufts University · USMassachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary · US

Funding

The role of plasmacytoid dendritic cells in corneal immunityR01EY022695 · NEI · TUFTS MEDICAL CENTER · PI HAMRAH, PEDRAM · 2013 to 2017
$2.4M
Discovery of the Biomarker Signature for Neuropathic Corneal PainR61NS113341 · NINDS · TUFTS MEDICAL CENTER · PI HAMRAH, PEDRAM · 2019 to 2019
$2.1M
NEI NIH HHS R01 EY022695NINDS NIH HHS R61 NS113341
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThe diagnosis of neuropathic corneal pain (NCP) is challenging, as it is often difficult to differentiate it from conventional dry eye disease (DED). In addition to eye pain, NCP can present with similar signs and symptoms of DED. The purpose of this study is to find an objective diagnostic sign to identify patients with NCP, using in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM).

methodsThis was a comparative, retrospective, case-control study. Patients with clinical diagnosis of NCP (n = 25), DED (n = 30), and age- and sex-matched healthy controls (n = 16), who underwent corneal imaging with IVCM (HRT3/RCM) were included. Central corneal IVCM scans were analyzed by 2 masked observers for nerve density and number, presence of microneuromas (terminal enlargements of subbasal corneal nerve) and/or nerve beading (bead-like formation along the nerves), and dendritiform cell (DC) density.

resultsThere was a decrease in total nerve density in both NCP (14.14 ± 1.03 mm/mm

conclusionIVCM may be used as an adjunct diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of NCP in the presence of neuropathic symptoms. Microneuromas may serve as a sensitive and specific biomarker for the diagnosis of NCP.

Indexed as

CorneaPainAdultBiomarkersCase-Control StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMicroscopy, ConfocalMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesBiomarkersCorneal paindry eye diseaseLaser in vivo confocal microscopyMicroneuromaNeuropathic corneal pain

Identifiers

PMID32663518
PMCPMC7686058
OpenAlexW3041036986

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.