Investigation Of The Clinical Features In Filamentary Keratitis In Zhejiang

Objective:To understand the epidemiological characteristics of filamentary keratitis(FK)in Zhejiang,and to explore the clinical features and inducement characteristics of FK.Finally,to provide guidance for the early prevention and treatment of FK.Methods:This was a retrospective study of 147 patients(162 eyes)with FK who had been continuously and completely recorded from August 2012 to August 2015 at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University in Hangzhou,east of China.Slit-lamp photographs and medical records of all patients were reviewed.The subjects were divided into three age groups:0-25 years(group A),26-50 years(group B),and 51-81 years(group C).The inducement characteristics of the different groups were investigated,and the filament locations were also analyzed according to the various causations.Results:FK induced by allergic conjunctivitis in group A was significantly higher than the other two groups(15/28 versus 1/74,15/28 versus 0/60)(p<0.001,p<0.001).However,FK cases caused by dry eye among group A patients were much lower than the other two groups(5/28 versus 33/74,5/28 versus 24/60)(p=0.013,p=0.040).The findings of FK due to viral keratitis were not significantly different among the three groups(p>0.05).FK caused by surgery or chemical injury in group C was significantly higher than the other two groups(14/60 versus 1/28,14/60 versus 4/74)(p=0.046,p=0.002).FK cases caused by autoimmune disease among group A patients were much lower than the other two groups(1/28 versus 19/74,1/28 versus 14/60)(p=0.012,p=0.046).Filament locations on the corneal surface varied with different causative factors.Of the filaments,80.00%were restricted to the exposed interpalpebral zone with dry eye and exposure factors.Moreover,52.56%were distributed in the corneal limbus with autoimmune factors and ocular inflammation,and 42.11%were distributed in the corneal damage or suture site following surgery or chemical injury.Conclusion:The causative factors of FK varied at different ages.The distribution of filaments on the corneal surface was also diverse with different inducements.