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Author Spotlight: Advancing Corneal Innervation Research Through Innovative Models
Published on: December 8, 2023
[Neurotrophic keratopathy : Principles, diagnostics and treatment]
Stefan Mergler1, Tina Dietrich-Ntoukas1, Uwe Pleyer2
1Universitäts-Augenklinik, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Deutschland.
Abstract:
Corneal nerves are responsible for the reception of pain, temperature, and touch and are an important component of homeostasis of the ocular surface. When the corneal innervation is reduced, degenerative changes can be manifested as neurotrophic keratopathy (NK). In a stage-dependent course, corneal epithelial alterations and ulcers may occur, even leading to perforation. The cause of NK is predominantly damage to the trigeminal nerve, which can be caused by infections (especially herpesviruses), metabolic diseases (such as diabetes mellitus) and by surgical procedures. The diagnosis of NK requires a detailed medical and ocular history, assessment of corneal sensitivity, and a complete ocular examination. The treatment of NK is oriented to the clinical severity and aims to restore the integrity of the ocular surface in order to prevent further disease progression.
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