Ciliary nerve

The ciliary nerve refers to the collection of peripheral nerves, including the short and long ciliary nerves, that provide the primary autonomic and sensory innervation to the ocular system [1, 3]. Short ciliary nerves originate from the ciliary ganglion and carry postganglionic parasympathetic fibers to the ciliary muscle and iris sphincter, which are essential for accommodation and the pupillary light reflex [1, 7]. Long ciliary nerves branch from the nasociliary nerve, providing sensory feedback from the cornea and iris and conveying sympathetic fibers for pupillary dilation [3, 6]. In clinical practice, these nerves are primary targets for regional anesthetic blocks to achieve ocular anesthesia and akinesia during ophthalmic surgeries [7]. Because they represent anatomical structures rather than specific molecules like receptors or enzymes, they are not classified as individual molecular therapeutic targets in the traditional drug discovery sense [2]. Pathologies involving these nerves, such as Adie's tonic pupil or neurotrophic keratitis, underscore their critical role in maintaining ocular physiology and reflex responses [7].

Other names

Ciliary nervesShort ciliary nerveLong ciliary nerveNervi ciliares

The mechanism involves the pharmacological blockade of voltage-gated sodium channels on the nerve axons by local anesthetics, which prevents the generation and propagation of action potentials, thereby inducing anesthesia and akinesia in the innervated ocular tissues.