Impact of Neurostimulation, Immunomodulation, Topical Medication Application, and Surgical Reconstruction on Corneal Nerve Function and Regeneration.

Abstract: The corneal epithelium, supplied by thousands of nerve endings, plays a substantial role in absorbing and distributing nutrients along the ocular surface. Many studies have explored the influence of various modalities in regulating tear production to manage corneal disorders and dry eye disease. These findings have highlighted the advantages of enhancing corneal nerve function and regeneration through neurostimulation, neural signaling, immunomodulation, topical medication application, and surgical reconstruction. The purpose of this narrative review article was to provide an overview of the current state of knowledge on this topic based on a PubMed database literature search for relevant animal and human studies investigating the modification of the trigeminal pathway to restore corneal nerve function and improve overall ocular health. Further investigation into this area of research is important to help guide new therapeutic targets for the prevention and development of treatments of corneal degeneration.