Premium
Cornea innervation: from physiologic to drug‐induced recovery
Author(s) -
ZURRIA M
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2012.t110.x
Subject(s) - cornea , medicine , nerve fiber , regeneration (biology) , neuroscience , ophthalmology , anatomy , biology , microbiology and biotechnology
Purpose To review the role of corneal innervation both in normal conditions and pathology and provide update on new therapeutic strategies considering cornea nerve fibers as a pharmacological target. Methods A review of the available literature has been performed and insights on new drugs summarized. Results The cornea is the most densely innervated tissue in the human body and the integrity of the nerve fibers is crucial in maintaining its refractive and protective power. A lot of ocular and systemic diseases ‐ as well as ocular surgery ‐ can adversely affect corneal nerves and consequently impair their function, with vision loss as a possible consequence. However, current standard treatment regimens do not consider cornea nerve fiber impairment as a therapeutic target, but the current strategy is to face symptoms. In the recent years, the number of published papers concerning this new therapeutic approach has been growing. Conclusion This report reviews cornea innervation impairment of any kind and the main attributes of therapeutic agents which could be useful in improving corneal nerve recovery stimulating nerve regeneration.Commercial interest