The corneal surface is the body’s most densely innervated tissue. Nevertheless, until recently the ocular innervation has not taken too much attention, because most sight-threatening diseases like glaucoma, cataract or retinal pathologies occur and progress without pain. The Tear Film and Ocular Surface Socienty (TFOS) has established a working group on ocular surface pain and sensation, which in 2017 published its report on the changes that take place in the ocular surface sensory pathways as a result of the corneal and conjunctival disturbances during dry eye disease, including the crosstalk between immune and neural elements [1]. More recently, Belmonte published a comprehensive overview on pain, dryness, and itch sensation in eye surface disorders as a balance between inflammation and sensory nerve injury [2]. Al-Aqaba et al. illuminated in their article on corneal nerves in health and disease the manifestation of corneal nerve dysfunction and nerve affection in corneal pathology, particularly in post-surgical conditions [3].
Corneal nerves in health and disease
Dr. Mueller-Lierheim 