Development of Corneal Sensation With Remodeling of the Epithelium and the Palisades of Vogt After Corneal Neurotization.

PURPOSE

Neurotrophic keratopathy (NK) produces persistent epithelial erosion which is hard to treat effectively. Recently, corneal neurotization surgery has produced reinnervation of the cornea with resolving neurotrophic keratopathy. We hypothesized that the generation of corneal epithelial nerves after neurotization surgery would not only restore the integrity of corneal epithelium but also produce a change in the configuration of the palisades of Vogt (POV), which houses the corneal epithelial stem cells.

METHODS

We assessed a patient with unilateral congenital corneal anesthesia with optical coherence tomography pre-neurotization and post-neurotization.

RESULTS

Over the course of 2 years, the patient gained corneal epithelial sensation and corneal and limbal epithelium was restored to normal thickness with corresponding changes in the POV.

CONCLUSIONS

The intimate relationship between epithelium and sensory nerves of the cornea has been well documented; however, changes in the corneal epithelial stem cell niche in conjunction with development of innervation have not previously been reported. Considering the architecture of the corneal nerves in conjunction with the architecture of the POV may assist in developing treatments that can support the regeneration and maintenance of epithelium during nerve regeneration.