Corneal Neurotization

Corneal neurotizationCorneal neurotization is currently the only disease-modifying treatment for neurotrophic keratopathyNeurotrophic keratopathy. The procedure transfers healthy nerves to an anesthetic cornea with the goal of restoring corneal sensationCorneal sensation. Successful corneal neurotizationCorneal neurotization allows for corneal epithelial healing, and in some cases, patients who were poor candidates may become good candidates for a corneal transplant. Corneal neurotizationCorneal neurotization has been successful for multiple different etiologies of neurotrophic keratopathyNeurotrophic keratopathy, including infectious keratitis from herpetic disease and vasculopathic conditions. Several different techniques for corneal neurotizationCorneal neurotization have been described, including variations on donor nervesDonor nerves and conduits. The most common technique involves coaptation of the infraorbitalInfraorbital or supraorbitalSupraorbital nerves using an autograft or donor allograft, which is then tunneled into the subtenon’s space and secured at the limbus. Corneal neurotizationCorneal neurotization offers ophthalmic surgeons a unique opportunity to improve outcomes and restore vision in patients with neurotrophic keratopathyNeurotrophic keratopathy.