Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40593226›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2025

Corneal epithelium is altered in keratoconus and forme fruste keratoconus.

Nomuundari Sukhee, Hiroyuki Namba, Marie Ikeda, Sera Ichinohasama, Tomoyuki Kurihara, Nene Okamoto, Junko Yoshida, Tomohiko Usui

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
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

8 authors.

Nomuundari Sukhee *Department of Ophthalmology, International University of Health and Welfare School of Medicine, Narita City, Chiba, Japan.
Hiroyuki Namba *Department of Ophthalmology, International University of Health and Welfare School of Medicine, Narita City, Chiba, Japan. hnamba@ihwg.jp.
Marie IkedaDepartment of Ophthalmology, International University of Health and Welfare Narita Hospital, Narita City, Chiba, Japan.
Sera IchinohasamaDepartment of Ophthalmology, International University of Health and Welfare Narita Hospital, Narita City, Chiba, Japan.
Tomoyuki KuriharaDepartment of Ophthalmology, International University of Health and Welfare Narita Hospital, Narita City, Chiba, Japan.
Nene OkamotoDepartment of Ophthalmology, International University of Health and Welfare Narita Hospital, Narita City, Chiba, Japan.
Junko YoshidaDepartment of Ophthalmology, International University of Health and Welfare School of Medicine, Narita City, Chiba, Japan.
Tomohiko UsuiDepartment of Ophthalmology, International University of Health and Welfare School of Medicine, Narita City, Chiba, Japan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This study investigated corneal epithelial thickness and its distribution in keratoconus (KC) and forme fruste keratoconus (FFK). A total of 35 KC eyes, 25 FFK eyes, and 35 control eyes underwent anterior segment-optical coherence tomography for corneal epithelial evaluation. Sixty KC eyes were included for the assessment of epithelial changes according to KC severity. Epithelial thickness in the central, paracentral, and peripheral areas-each subdivided into eight zones-was statistically analysed. Minimum, maximum, and average epithelial thicknesses were reduced in KC eyes, especially in the inferior and inferior-temporal zones. Standard deviations were greater in KC eyes across nearly all zones. In FFK and KC eyes, the differences between superior and inferior epithelial thickness were significantly altered compared to control eyes. According to the Amsler-Krumeich classification, more advanced KC stages were associated with greater corneal thinning. Epithelial heterogeneity decreased in the central and paracentral area as a result of superior epithelial thinning, whereas it increased in the peripheral area with KC progression. Epithelial thickness and distribution were altered in KC and even in FFK eyes with normal topography. Different stages of KC may exhibit distinct epithelial remodelling patterns.

Indexed as

Epithelium, CornealKeratoconusAdultCorneal TopographyFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedTomography, Optical CoherenceYoung AdultCorneal tomographyEpitheliumForme fruste keratoconusKeratoconus

Identifiers

PMID40593226
PMCPMC12218143

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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.