Topical insulin in neurotrophic keratopathy after resection of acoustic neuroma

Abstract

Case report: A patient with a history of surgical resection of an acoustic neuroma presented with involvement of both the left facial nerve and the left trigeminal nerve. She initially consulted for exposure keratitis, but two weeks later presented with an infectious keratitis. After taking the corneal sample, she presented with persistent epithelial defect, which did not respond to medical management. Topical insulin was indicated, and a decrease in the area of the lesion was seen in the following 5 days. A therapeutic contact lens was also placed at that time and finally, two weeks after the initiation of insulin, the epithelial defect completely closed.

Discussion: This was a complex case due to the confluence of facial paralysis, neurotrophic keratitis, and infectious keratitis, which finally had a successful outcome. Topical insulin can be an effective adjuvant therapy in cases of neurotrophic ulcers that do not respond to standard therapy.

Keywords: Corneal ulcer; Facial nerve; Insulin; Insulina; Keratitis; Nervio facial; Nervio trigémino; Queratitis; Schwannoma; Trigeminal nerve; Úlcera de la córnea.