Neurotrophic Keratitis. Etiology, Pathogenesis, Clinical Manifestations. Review. Part 1

Neurotrophic keratitis (also called neurotrophic keratopathy) (NTK) is a degenerative disease of the cornea, accompanied with neurogenic inflammation. It caused by sensitive innervation loss trigeminal nerve and characterized reduced sensitivity cornea retardation its healing process. NTC-causing damage to can occur at different levels-from nucleus terminals located in be ocular systemic diseases both. The most common causes include herpetic keratitis, diabetes, chemical burns iatrogenic injuries during ophthalmic operations, intracranial neoplasms, disorders cerebral circulation neurosurgical interventions. Corneal changes epitheliopathy (grade I), persistent erosion II), ulcer complications III). determining diagnostic sign NTK decrease or corneal sensitivity. morphological characteristics nerves studied using confocal microscopy.