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NR. 3(I)/2004
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Nerve growth factor
treatment in ocular surface diseases: potential application in
refractive surgery
Alessandro Lambiase, Stefano
Bonini
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Rome „Campus
Bio-Medico” |
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| Summary: |
Nerve growth factor (NGF)
is the prototype member of neurotrophin family which
plays an essential role in the differentiation and
survival of specific neurons localized in the peripheral
and central nervous system. It was recently demonstrated
that NGF plays a crucial role in the trophism and wound
healing of the ocular surface. In vitro and in animal
model NGF treatment promotes corneal healing and
increases tear production. In humans, NGF treatment
induces prompt corneal recovery associated with an
improvement of corneal sensitivity in patients affected
by neurotrophic keratitis. Excimer laser
photokeratectomy is the most frequent surgical procedure
performed for the correction of refractive errors.
Despite the successful clinical outcomes, a few patients
develop unsatisfactory visual acuity, regression of the
achieved correction, corneal haze, poor contrast
sensitivity, defect of wound healing, and a dry eye-like
syndrome. Most of these complications have been related
to the corneal nerve injury, due to the laser treatment,
leading to a post-surgery neurotrophic disease.
Preliminary data in animal models of refractive surgery
show that NGF treatment induces a faster recovery of
corneal epithelium after PRK associated with a decrease
of keratocytes apoptosis and an increase of corneal
reinnervation following LASIK.
These data suggest a potential use of NGF eye drops to
improve outcome of refractive surgery and to prevent
possible complications. |
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| Key words: |
nerve growth factor,
refractive surgery, wound healing. |
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