Summary
PROJECT SUMMARY Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) are surgical procedures used to correct refractive errors, with approximately 600,000 surgeries performed in the United States each year. A proportion (10 - 20%) of individuals develop persistent ocular pain after refractive surgery, which is a source of tremendous morbidity, limiting the ability to work, impacting mental health, and leading to suicidal ideation in severe cases. We hypothesize that proteins in the tear fluid modulate corneal nerve function, increasing the risk of and contributin
