Corneal Neurotization for Neurotrophic Keratopathy: Clinical Outcomes and In Vivo Confocal Microscopic and Histopathological Findings

Abstract

Our study elucidates the mechanism of corneal neurotization surgery at a cellular level. Although only 1 patient achieved long-term improvement in corneal sensation postoperatively, the findings on IVCM and histopathological examination suggest that partial regeneration/maintenance of corneal nerves after corneal neurotization surgery is likely attributed to the paracrine neurotrophic support, instead of direct sprouting, from the perilimbal transplanted nerve fascicles.