The cornea is one of the most densely innervated tissues in the human body. The high presence of sensory nerve endings makes the cornea extremely sensitive to pain and changes at the eye’s surface. This is particularly important in regulating tear production, a function which is impaired in dry eye disease.
By analyzing changes in nerve patterns and ion channel expression, we aim to further clarify the role of corneal nerves in spontaneous pain and tear production in dry eye disease. This image shows the structural βIII-tubulin component of mouse corneal nerves at their unique convergence point.