Structural and Functional Changes of Corneal Innervation After Treatment With Cenegermin
Neurotrophic keratopathy (NK) is a condition in which patients have fewer or complete absence of nerves in the cornea, characterized by the reduced or absent corneal sensation. The lack of nerves in the cornea also result in damages of the cornea and in severe situation the loss of the eye. Cenegermin (trade name Oxervate) is a nerve growth factor eye drops designed to treat NK, and currently, it is the only FDA-approved medication for this purpose. Even though cenegermin is effective in the majority of patients, there is a lack of understanding of how cenegermin works in the eye. In this study, investigators aim to determine the structural and functional effects of cenegermin on the cornea, using non-invasive technologies including in vivo confocal microscopy on study participants with NK over the course of a year.
• Patients ≥18 years of age; AND
• Persistent corneal epitheliopathy that is refractory to treatments for ≥2 weeks; AND
• Evidence of decreased corneal sensitivity, defined as ≤45mm on Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer, within the area of the persistent corneal epitheliopathy; AND
• Evidence of decreased corneal sensitivity, defined as above, in ≥1 corneal quadrant outside the persistent corneal epithelial defect.