Neurotrophic Keratitis: Restoring Corneal Integrity

Overview

Provider Statement

This continuing education activity is provided by 

Support Statement

This activity is supported by an educational grant from Dompé US, Inc.

Activity Description

Neurotrophic keratopathy (NK) is a degenerative corneal disease caused by damage to trigeminal corneal innervation, leading to reduced or absent corneal sensation, impaired epithelial healing, spontaneous epithelial breakdown, and potential ulceration. It may develop after ocular or neurologic injury, systemic disease, prior infections, surgery, or chronic ocular surface stress, all of which can disrupt the trophic support needed to maintain corneal health. Because patients often have few symptoms despite visible corneal damage, NK can be overlooked until epithelial defects or more advanced disease are present. Diagnosis depends on recognizing the mismatch between clinical findings and patient discomfort, supported by corneal sensitivity testing, careful history, and ocular surface evaluation. Early identification is essential because even mild disease can progress rapidly and lead to vision-threatening complications. Newer staging approaches emphasize detecting altered corneal sensation and early epithelial or stromal changes before severe damage occurs. Management is stage-adapted and aims to restore ocular surface integrity, preserve or improve corneal sensation, prevent progression, and support long-term visual outcomes through timely, interprofessional care. Through interactive Ace the Case CE activity, expert faculty identify NK using the latest diagnostic tools and assessments and manage patients with stage-appropriate evidence-based NK treatments.

Target Audience

The intended audience for this activity is ophthalmologists and optometrists involved in the management of patients with NK.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this activity, participants should be better able to:

• Identify patients with NK using the latest diagnostic tools as well as preoperative assessments.
• Manage patients with NK using stage-appropriate, evidence-based treatments that prevent disease progression and corneal complications.
• Optimize interprofessional collaboration and referral strategies to improve outcomes for patients with NK.

Activity Chair

Brandon D. Ayres, MD
Cornea Service
Co-Director of Cornea Fellowship
Wills Eye Hospital
Philadelphia, PA

Faculty

Preeya K. Gupta, MD
Managing Director
Triangle Eye Consultants
Raleigh, NC
Adjunct Associate Professor of Ophthalmology
Cornea, Cataract, & Refractive Surgery
Tulane University
New Orleans, LA

Kourtney Houser, MD
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology
Duke Cornea Fellowship Program Director
Medical Director, Duke Ophthalmic Technician Program
Duke University School of Medicine
Durham, NC

Planners/Reviewers

Ronald A. Codario, MD, EMBA, FACP, FNLA, RPVI, CHCP
Mary Beth Yackey, OD

Medical Writer

Kimberly Rath, PharmD

Accreditation

 In support of improving patient care, Vindico Medical Education is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. This activity will also award credit for optometry (COPE) if the requirements necessary for credit are met.

Credit Designation

Vindico Medical Education designates this enduring material for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Vindico Medical Education designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 0.5 COPE credit hours. Optometrists should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

COPE Course Number: 105880-TD
COPE Activity Number: 133326

This enduring material is approved for 1 year from the date of original release, July 24, 2026, to July 23, 2027.

How to Participate in This Activity and Obtain CE Credit

To participate in this activity, you must read the objective, view the case, and complete the posttest and evaluation. Provide only one (1) correct answer for each question. A satisfactory score is defined as answering 4 of the 6 posttest questions correctly. If a satisfactory score on the posttest is achieved, Vindico Medical Education will issue an AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ certificate or COPE CE certificate.

Disclosures

Vindico Medical Education adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Individuals in a position to control the content of a continuing education activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others, are required to disclose all financial relationships with ineligible companies. All relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.

Relationship information is accurate at the time of content development.

Faculty reports the following relevant financial relationship(s)

Brandon D. Ayres, MD
Advisor: AbbVie, Alcon, Allergan, Bausch + Lomb, Sight Sciences, Tarsus, Zeiss

Preeya K. Gupta, MD
Consultant: AbbVie, Alcon, Aldeyra, Azura, Bausch + Lomb, Dompé, Emmecell, EyeCool, HanAll, J&J Vision, Kala, Ocular Science, Oculis, Orasis, Sight Sciences, Science Based Health, Spyglass, Stuart Therapeutics, Surface, Tarsus, TearClear, Thea, TissueTech, Trukera, Visionology, Vital Tears, Zeiss
Stock Options: Azura, Orasis, Spyglass, Surface, Tarsus, TearClear, Visionology

Kourtney Houser, MD
Advisor: Alcon, CorneaGen, Zeiss
Consultant: Alcon, Bausch + Lomb, Dompé, Sight Sciences, Tarsus

Planners/Reviewers report the following relevant financial relationship(s)

Ronald A. Codario, MD, EMBA, FACP, FNLA, RPVI, CHCP
No relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Mary Beth Yackey, OD
Advisor: AbbVie/Regenxbio, Bausch + Lomb, Orasis/Qlosi, Tarsus, Zeiss
Consultant: Notal Vision/FSH, Reliance Medical Equipment
Speaker Contracted by Ineligible Company: AbbVie/Regenxbio

Medical Writer reports the following relevant financial relationship(s)

Kimberly Rath, PharmD
No relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Vindico Medical Education staff report the following relevant financial relationship(s)

No relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Signed disclosures are on file at Vindico Medical Education, Office of Medical Affairs and Compliance.

Unlabeled and Investigational Usage

The audience is advised that this continuing education activity may contain references to unlabeled uses of FDA-approved products or to products not approved by the FDA for use in the United States. The faculty members have been made aware of their obligation to disclose such usage. All activity participants will be informed if any speakers/authors intend to discuss either non–FDA-approved or investigational use of products/devices.

Accessibility

Vindico Medical Education is committed to providing an inclusive learning environment and ensuring equitable access to our educational content. Our educational activities will include accessibility features, such as captioning, transcripts, reading aloud, and other platform-supported tools, to assist learners.

Participants who require additional accommodation, alternative formats, or assistance accessing content are encouraged to contact us at CME@VindicoCME.com. Vindico will make all reasonable efforts to provide alternative formats in a timely manner.

Copyright Statement

Created and published by Vindico Medical Education, 6900 Grove Road, Building 100, Thorofare, NJ 08086-9447. Telephone: 856-994-9400; Fax: 856-384-6680. Printed in the USA. Copyright © 2026 Vindico Medical Education. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The material presented at or in any Vindico Medical Education continuing education activity does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Vindico Medical Education. Neither Vindico Medical Education nor the faculty endorse or recommend any techniques, commercial products, or manufacturers. The faculty/authors may discuss the use of materials and/or products that have not yet been approved by the FDA. All readers and continuing education participants should verify all information before treating patients or utilizing any product.

Procedures for Reporting Copyright Infringement

If you suspect that any content in this activity violates your copyright, you can request the removal of such content or restrict access to it by contacting our designated copyright agent (as outlined below). In your email, kindly provide the following details:

• Specify the copyrighted work you believe has been infringed upon.
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• Provide a signature or its electronic equivalent from the copyright holder or a representative authorized to act on their behalf.

Our agent for copyright issues relating to this web activity is as follows:
Vindico Medical Education, LLC
Attn: Faith Bantivoglio
6900 Grove Road, Building 300
Thorofare, NJ 08086
fbantivoglio@vindicocme.com
or call: 856-994-9400, ext. 614

CE Questions?

Contact us at cme@vindicoCME.com