| 主权项 |
1. A method of evaluating efficacy of a treatment in a subject having dry eye syndrome, the method comprising:
(a) determining in an eye of a subject having dry eye syndrome one or more of (i) the number or percentage of hyperreflective superficial epithelial cells present in the cornea, (ii) the average size of superficial epithelial cells present in the cornea, (iii) the density of superficial epithelial cells present in the cornea, (iv) the density of dendritic immune cells present in the cornea, (v) the average size of dendritic immune cells present in the cornea, (vi) the average area covered by dendritic immune cells present in the cornea, (vii) the density or average length of nerves present in the cornea, (viii) the amount of branching in nerves present in the cornea, and (ix) the total number of nerves present in the cornea at a first time point; (b) determining in the eye of the subject one or more of (i) the number or percentage of hyperreflective superficial epithelial cells present in the cornea, (ii) the average size of superficial epithelial cells present in the cornea, (iii) the density of superficial epithelial cells present in the cornea, (iv) the density of dendritic immune cells present in the cornea, (v) the average size of dendritic immune cells present in the cornea, (vi) the average area covered by dendritic immune cells present in the cornea, (vii) the density or average length of nerves present in the cornea, (viii) the amount of branching in nerves present in the cornea, and (ix) the total number of nerves present in the cornea at a second time point; (c) comparing the one or more of (i) the number or percentage of hyperreflective superficial epithelial cells present in the cornea, (ii) the average size of superficial epithelial cells present in the cornea, (iii) the density of superficial epithelial cells present in the cornea, (iv) the density of dendritic immune cells present in the cornea, (v) the average size of dendritic immune cells present in the cornea, (vi) the average area covered by dendritic immune cells present in the cornea, (vii) the density or average length of nerves present in the cornea, (viii) the amount of branching in nerves present in the cornea, and (ix) the total number of nerves present in the cornea determined at the first and second time points, wherein (i) the first time point is prior to treatment and the second time point is any time point following the initiation of treatment, or (ii) the first time point is following the initiation of treatment and the second time point is at a later time point during or after treatment; and (d) identifying the treatment administered to a subject having in an eye one or more of a decrease in the number or percentage of hyperreflective superficial epithelial cells present in the cornea, a decrease in the average size of superficial epithelial cells present in the cornea, an elevation in the density of superficial epithelial cells present in the cornea, a decrease in the density of dendritic immune cells present in the cornea, a decrease in the average size of dendritic immune cells present in the cornea, a decrease in the average area covered by dendritic immune cells present in the cornea, an elevation in the density or average length of nerves present in the cornea, an elevation in the amount of branching in nerves present in the cornea, and an elevation in the total number of nerves present in the cornea determined at the second time point compared to the first time point as being effective in the subject. |
