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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (Ivanhoe Newswire) - Blinking—it’s something everyone does without even realizing they’re doing it. But up to 10,000 people a year lose their ability to blink, and that can cause serious problems, even causing people to go blind. Now, a new technique is saving sight, even reversing vision loss.

Most people blink 17 times a minute—over a thousand blinks every hour—that adds up to 15,000 blinks a day, but some people can lose their ability to blink.

“N.K. stands for neurotrophic keratopathy, or neurotrophic keratitis, and it describes a condition in which the nerves that provide sensation to the surface of the eye, and specifically the cornea, are damaged in some way and not working properly,” explained Dr. Daniel Rubenstein, an ophthalmologist & oculofacial plastic surgeon at UNC School of Medicine in Chapel Hill, N.C.

N.K. often happens after an infection or trauma to the head or neck. Brain and skull base tumors are also common causes of N.K. Failing to blink can damage the cornea, causing cloudy and blurry vision. Typical treatment includes eye drops and surgery to permanently close a portion of the eye to protect it.

“All of those are supportive and none of them really get at the underlying problem, which is the nerve damage itself,” explained Dr. Rubenstein.

Now a team of surgeons at UNC hospitals are performing corneal neurotization. During the surgery, healthy nerve is taken from the lower leg and used to reconnect the healthy nerve just beneath the eyebrow to the damaged cornea.

“Those nerves actually grow back into the damaged cornea and replace the nerves that are no longer functioning,” said Dr. Rubenstein.

It takes patients up to six months to notice improved vision and sensation. The healing process is slow, but can be life changing.

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