Abstract: Neuropathic symptoms of the ocular surface: dryness, pain, and itch.

This is dated 2017 but just got the alert from PubMed today. Bummer the full article is not available to the public... this kind of review article is really helpful. But one of the reasons I'm posting the abstract is just to celebrate how far we've come. Dry eye veterans, can you even imagine anybody researching and publishing about specific neurpathic symptoms, say, ten years ago?

Anat Galor (author on the study below) was also a contributor to the TFOS DEWS II Pain and Sensation report, of course. 

Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2017 Oct;17(5):373-381. 
Neuropathic symptoms of the ocular surface: dryness, pain, and itch.
Andersen HH1, Yosipovitch G, Galor A.

Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW:
This review aims to describe the recent findings on epidemiology, pathophysiology, and management of neuropathic symptoms of the ocular surface, with a focus on potential similarities between sensations of dry eye, pain and itch.

RECENT FINDINGS:
A narrative review of the literature was undertaken. Key references from research in dry eye, neuropathic symptoms of the ocular surface, ocular pain and itch, as well as general references on itch and pain neurobiology were included. Recent findings suggest aspects of dry eye, chronic ocular pain and itch symptomatology are driven by neuropathic pain mechanisms involving peripheral and central sensitization processes.

SUMMARY:
Ocular dryness, pain, and itch are prevalent complaints with several of shared features. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that peripheral and central neuronal sensitization processes are involved in generating and maintaining ocular sensory symptoms. Research is warranted on the epidemiology of ocular sensations, molecular mechanisms involved in nociception and pruriception in the eye, electrophysiological alterations in animal models of eye conditions, and therapeutic modalities that can alleviate unpleasant ocular sensations.

Corneal innervation and sensation

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.