Recent abstract.... These are the sorts of papers we've waited so many years to see.

May there be more every month.

Yale J Biol Med. 2018 Mar 28;91(1):13-21. eCollection 2018 Mar.

Corneal Innervation and Sensation: The Eye and Beyond.

Yang AY1, Chow J1, Liu J1.
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.

Abstract

The cornea is one of the most densely innervated and sensitive tissues in the body. In addition to their important sensory functions, corneal nerves induce reflex tear production, blinking, and the release of trophic factors - all of which combined help to maintain the structural and functional integrity of the surface of the eye. Consequently, damage to corneal nerves as a result of disease, surgery, or trauma can lead to diminished corneal sensitivity, epithelial defects, and possible blindness. In this review, we describe commonly used tools that have provided considerable new information on corneal architecture and sensation in healthy and diseased corneas, with special emphasis on changes seen in herpes zoster ophthalmicus, corneal and other therapeutic ocular procedures, antiglaucoma medical therapy, aging, and diabetes. With its potential applications ranging from managing ocular-specific to systemic diseases, the study of corneal innervation has implications for future therapies extending beyond just the eye itself.