The human cornea is the most densely innervated tissue in the human body. Its superficial sensory nerves play an essential role in maintaining a healthy ocular surface and hence represent an important corneal health indicator: They detect foreign bodies or noxious substances, initiate basal tear film production, promote blinking, and ensure neurotrophic maintenance of the corneal epithelium. This presentation provides an overview of the morphology of the fine structures within the human corneal intra-epithelial subbasal nerve plexus. Studies will also be discussed, where corneal nerve function was assessed across a range of conditions, including dry eye disease, refractive surgery (both, pre- and post-operatively), keratoplasty, corneal dystrophies and degenerations, peripheral neuropathy (such as diabetes), and corneal infections. Additionally, studies applying corneal sensitivity measurements in contact lens wear to evaluate, ischaemia, inflammatory processes and to investigate issues related to contact lens discomfort and / or contact lens induced dry eye will be explored. Finally, challenges in the assessment of corneal nerve morphology and function will be addressed: In vivo confocal microscopy is challenging, as the sections of corneal nerves captured per image are small (0.4*0.4 mm2) and live eye tracking is not possible. For corneal sensitivity measurement, two commercially available devices will be discussed: The tactile Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometer and the Brill air jet aesthesiometer. The respective advantages and limitations, as well as other research prototypes utilising air and saline liquid jet aesthesiometers, will be examined. This comparison aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of current and emerging tools for corneal nerve assessment, highlighting their potential applications and areas for improvement in clinical and research settings.
- Date: May 18th, 2025
- Time: 9:30 – 10:00
- Location: Linhart Hall
About Daniela Nosch
Daniela S. Nosch is a professor at the Optometry School of the University of Applied Science in Switzerland, where she teaches clinical subjects and is responsible for the clinic. Her main research interests are dry eye disease and contact lens wear, specifically, the role of the superficial pain sensitive nerve endings in the corneal epithelium in symptomology and signs of dry eye disease, ocular thermography and contact lens induced dry eye. She also works clinically in ophthalmology and was previously in specialised contact lens practice and general optometry at the Hospital eye service as well as in private practice in the UK, Germany and Switzerland. She has published and presented internationally. She is a member of the College of Optometrists and fellow of both, the BCLA and EAOO, as well as Chair of the EAOO education committee and a member of the ECOO European Diploma accreditation committee.
Event Timeslots (1)
Linhart Hall
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Daniela Nosch
