加齢および眼手術に伴う結膜を主とした眼表面の知覚変化

Changes in sensitivity of ocular surface including bulbar conjunctiva due to aging or surgery

要約　目的：加齢または手術による角結膜の知覚変化の報告。対象と方法：65例65眼を対象とした。年齢は26～86歳（平均60歳）で，40歳以下の18眼，60歳以上の25眼，60歳以上で白内障手術の既往がある22眼の3群に分けた。Cochet-Bonnetの角膜知覚計で，角膜の中央部，輪部から5mm上方，下方，鼻側，耳側の計5か所の知覚を測定した。結果：全症例を通じ，角膜の知覚は結膜よりも鋭敏であった（p＜0.05）。結膜の上方と下方の知覚は，若年群よりも高齢群が鋭敏であった（p＜0.05）。手術群は結膜の全部位の知覚が高齢群よりも鋭敏であった（p＜0.05）。結論：球結膜の知覚は，加齢または過去の白内障手術により鋭敏化する。これが高齢者や手術後の不定愁訴に関係している可能性がある。

Abstract.　Purpose：To report changes in sensitivity of ocular surface due to aging or surgery. Cases and Method：This study was made on 65 eyes of 65 persons. The age ranged from 26 to 86 years,average 60 years. They were divided into 3 groups：18 eyes under 40 years of age,25 eyes over 60 years,and 22 eyes over 60 years with history of cataract surgery. Sensitivity was measured at the corneal apex and bulbar conjunctiva 5 mm away from the limbus in 4 quadrants. An esthesiometer by Cochet-Bonnet was used in the measurement. Results：The corneal apex was more sensitive than the bulbar conjunctiva throughout the cases（p＜0.05）. Conjunctiva superior and inferior to the cornea was more sensitive in senile persons than those under 40 years of age（p＜0.05）. Persons with past history of cataract surgery showed higher sensitivity of the conjunctiva in all quadrants than senile persons who received no surgery（p＜0.05）. Conclusion：Cornea and conjunctiva become more sensitive along with age or after surgery. This finding may be associated with ill-defined complaints by senile persons or after cataract surgery.