Corneal neurotization meets COVID-19: a case report of minimally invasive corneal neurotization complicated by COVID-19-related keratitis

This study presents the first documented case of COVID-19-related NK following MICN established as a diagnosis of exclusion. This case underscores the critical need for comprehensive differential diagnosis to rule out infectious etiologies in post-MICN keratitis, ultimately leading to a diagnosis of exclusion for COVID-19-induced disease. The diagnostic approach outlined may offer valuable insights for similar presentations. After a protracted clinical course, the patient ultimately achieved restoration of corneal sensation and reinnervation, demonstrating the preserved regenerative potential of MICN-reconstructed neural pathways even after severe viral infection.