The effect of corneal trephination on neovascularization.

In order to investigate a neural influence on corneal neovascularization, we attempted to induce new vessel growth within a denervated zone produced by trephination. The stimulus for vascularization was cauterization central to the trephined margin. We demonstrated that in corneas denervated and stimulated in this manner neovascularization did not occur. This finding supports our hypothesis of a neural influence on neovascularization.