Corneal neurotisation by great auricular nerve transfer and scleral-corneal tunnel incisions for neurotrophic keratopathy

Background/Aims Medical management of neurotrophickeratopathy is challenging and costly. Supra-orbital nerve transfer to thecornea has proven effective for management of keratopathy, but yieldsconsiderable donor site morbidity. Herein, a novel technique for reinnervationof the anaesthetic cornea is presented and early results characterised. Methods Sensory fibres of the ipsilateral greatauricular nerve were directed via an interposition graft to the anteriorcorneal stroma using scleral-corneal tunnel incisions in two patients withgrade III neurotrophic keratopathy. Results Improvements in visual acuity, cornealpachymetry, corneal esthesiometry, and corneal neurotisation as assessed by invivo confocal microscopy were observed within nine months of surgery in bothpatients. Conclusion Corneal neurotisation by interposition grafttransfer of great auricular nerve fibres via scleral-corneal tunnel incisionsappears effective in the management of neurotrophic keratopathy.