Industry

VIDEO: Sunshine Eye highlights evolution of neurotrophic keratitis awareness, treatment

Healio Ophthalmology11h ago1 min read

MIAMI — In this video from Sunshine Eye & Retina, Kendall E. Donaldson, MD, MS, of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, discusses the evolution of awareness and treatment of neurotrophic keratitis.Donaldson highlighted available treatment options and the importance of checking corneal sensation and trying to introduce early treatment.“The main point here at the meeting has been that we just have so many options, and for a lot of these patients, we need to do multiple things to help them down the pathway, but ... intervening early in the course can be so much more helpful,”

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AI Summary

Quick Take

Dr. Kendall Donaldson of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute highlights a paradigm shift in neurotrophic keratitis (NK) management, emphasizing that early intervention and the use of multimodal treatment options are now essential. She stresses that routine corneal sensation testing is the key to identifying these patients before they progress to more severe stages of the disease.

Why It Matters

Neurotrophic keratitis was historically difficult to manage, often resulting in a reactive approach once a persistent epithelial defect appeared. As awareness grows and the therapeutic toolbox expands, the focus is shifting toward proactive screening and early-stage treatment. This change in strategy is vital because catching corneal denervation early can prevent the devastating structural failures that often lead to permanent vision loss or the need for emergency surgery. It reflects a broader industry trend where NK is moving from a rare, difficult-to-treat orphan disease to a manageable clinical priority.

Key Details

Increased clinical awareness is driving a shift toward earlier diagnosis and more aggressive management of neurotrophic keratitis.
Corneal sensation testing is emphasized as a critical diagnostic step that should be performed early in the evaluation of ocular surface disease.
The current treatment landscape offers a wide variety of options, often requiring clinicians to combine multiple therapies to support the corneal healing pathway.
Intervening early in the course of the disease is significantly more effective than waiting for advanced clinical signs to appear.

Practice Implications

Practitioners should integrate corneal sensation checks into their standard dry eye or ocular surface workups to screen for underlying neurotrophic components, especially in patients with a history of viral keratitis or chronic surface issues. When NK is identified, clinicians should consider a multimodal approach early in the disease course rather than relying solely on traditional lubricants or waiting for ulceration to occur.

Who's Affected

Cornea SpecialistsOptometristsComprehensive OphthalmologistsAnterior Segment Surgeons

Evidence StrengthModerate

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