Advances in treatment for neurotrophic keratopathy

To review the clinical characteristics and possible new mode of treatments for the corneal epithelial disorders associated with neurotrophic keratopathy.

The successful clinical applications of eyedrops containing substance P and insulin-like growth factor-1, or peptides derived therefrom, were reported for the treatment of humans with neurotrophic keratopathy.

Neurotrophic keratopathy, a degenerative disease of the cornea, is caused by an impairment of function of the trigeminal nerve and an insufficient supply of neural factors. The combination of substance P, a sensory neurotransmitter, and insulin-like growth factor-1 induced a synergistic stimulatory effect on corneal epithelial migration as well as on corneal wound closure in vivo. We discuss the roles of growth factors and substance P, a sensory neurotransmitter released from the trigeminal nerve, in corneal epithelial wound healing as well as the clinical application of these molecules to the treatment of neurotrophic keratopathy.