Diagnosis and management of neurotrophic keratitis.

ABSTRACT: Neurotrophic keratitis (NK) is a degenerative disease characterized by corneal sensitivity reduction, spontaneous epithelium breakdown, and impairment of corneal healing. Several causes of NK, including herpetic keratitis, diabetes, and ophthalmic and neurosurgical procedures, share the common mechanism of trigeminal damage. Diagnosis of NK requires accurate investigation of clinical ocular and systemic history, complete eye examination, and assessment of corneal sensitivity. All diagnostic procedures to achieve correct diagnosis and classification of NK, including additional examinations such as in vivo confocal microscopy, are reviewed. NK can be classified according to severity of corneal damage, ie, epithelial alterations (stage 1), persistent epithelial defect (stage 2), and corneal u

SUBMITTER: Sacchetti M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3964170 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature