Have your Dry Eye Treatments Not Been Working?

What does it mean when your dry eye treatments do not seem to be working? There could be something else going on! Keep reading..
 

Neurotrophic Keratopathy (NK) is a degenerative disease of the cornea caused by a loss or reduction of corneal sensation. The cornea should be able to heal itself after surgery and/or injury/trauma, but certain risk factors cause the corneal self-healing abilities to degenerate, leading to NK. 
 

NK is typically obvious when your dry eye treatments have “not been working.” Is it really true that they haven’t worked? NO! But oftentimes, when a treatment does not work, it can indicate that there may be MORE going on than we initially realize. 
 

What are some causes of NK?

• Herpes simplex or herpes zoster infections 

• Ocular surgery (like LASIK or cataract surgery)

• Trauma (chemical burns, physical injury)

• Systemic diseases (e.g., diabetes, multiple sclerosis)

• Use of certain medications (e.g., prolonged use of topical anesthetics or neurotoxic agents)

• Others
   

What are the symptoms of NK?

• Redness of the eye

• Blurred vision

• Foreign body sensation

• Light sensitivity

• Non-healing corneal ulcers

• Eye dryness and discomfort
   

How do we make the diagnosis?

Diagnosis involves a comprehensive clinical exam, including:

• Slit-lamp examination to detect epithelial defects or ulcers.

• Corneal sensation test (using a cotton swab or specialized esthesiometer).

• Ocular imaging (like corneal topography or anterior segment OCT) to assess the extent of corneal damage.
   

We have all of these diagnostics available at Avant Eyes and the doctors are well versed in identifying and treating NK. 

How do you treat NK?

We have many tools now compared to just ten years ago. 

Bandage contact lenses, therapeutic eye drops, punctal plugs, ointments, autologous serum (eye drops made of your blood), amniotic membranes and recombinant human nerve growth factor eye drops are just a few of the treatments Dr Kataria OD FAAO uses to treat her patients with NK. 
 

Prognosis

Early diagnosis leads to early treatment, which leads to a better prognosis. 

If your dry eye treatments have not worked for you, call/text to schedule a consultation: 818 900 5650.

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