Abstract: Corneal neuromediators, which are released by corneal nerves and their interactions with target cells, play a crucial role in maintaining normal corneal physiological functions and facilitating the repair process of the cornea. Laser corneal refractive surgery, involving the ablation of the cornea, not only results in corneal tissue damage but also leads to changes in the expression levels of corneal and tear neuromediators postoperatively. Specifically, the expression levels of substance P (SP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in tears are elevated compared to preoperative values, while the changes in the expression levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in tears and nerve growth factor (NGF) in both the cornea and tears have shown inconsistent results in current research. Additionally, the expression levels of corneal and tear neuromediators are significantly affected by the type of laser corneal refractive surgery and are closely associated with the postoperative recovery of corneal nerve and ocular surface function. (Int Rev Ophthalmol, 2024, 48:  290-297)

Key words: laser corneal refractive surgery, neuromediators, neurotrophin, neuropeptide, corneal nerve repair