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Evidence that Dry Eye Represents a Chronic Overlapping Pain Condition
Alexandra E Levitt1, Anat Galor2, Aneesa R Chowdhury3
1Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FL.
Molecular Pain
|August 18, 2017
Summary
Corneal somatosensory dysfunction may cause severe dry eye symptoms unresponsive to treatment. These symptoms might be better understood as neuropathic ocular pain, linked to broader chronic pain conditions.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neuroscience
- Pain Medicine
Background:
- A subset of patients with dry eye syndrome exhibit severe symptoms without apparent ocular surface disease.
- These patients often show poor response to conventional dry eye treatments.
- Their symptoms may indicate neuropathic ocular pain rather than typical dry eye.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the concept of neuropathic ocular pain.
- To discuss potential mechanisms underlying these symptoms.
- To examine evidence linking these symptoms to chronic overlapping pain conditions.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on dry eye syndrome, neuropathic pain, and chronic overlapping pain conditions.
- Analysis of patient data suggesting corneal somatosensory dysfunction.
- Discussion of central pain processing abnormalities in affected individuals.
Main Results:
- Corneal somatosensory dysfunction is implicated in severe dry eye symptoms.
- Neuropathic ocular pain offers an alternative characterization for these persistent symptoms.
- Association with comorbid pain conditions and central pain abnormalities is frequently observed.
Conclusions:
- Neuropathic ocular pain may be a distinct entity within the spectrum of dry eye.
- Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing targeted therapies.
- Considering neuropathic ocular pain as part of chronic overlapping pain conditions is warranted.
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