SCOPING REVIEW ON THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE OPHTHALMIC BRANCH (V1) IN TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA: SYSTEMATIC MAPPING AND IDENTIFICATION OF RESEARCH LACUNAE

• Dr.Mayukh Pandit,*  
• Dr Sanhati Das

Abstract

Background: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a neurovascular compression syndrome affecting the trigeminal nerve, with the ophthalmic branch (V1) involvement being less common but clinically significant. Understanding the epidemiology, diagnostic challenges, pathophysiological mechanisms, and treatment outcomes of V1 TN is crucial for improving patient care. Material & Method: A comprehensive systematic search was conducted across databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and others, to identify studies on V1 involvement in TN published in English. The review included human studies reporting the incidence or prevalence of V1 involvement, utilizing observational studies, clinical trials, and systematic reviews. Data were extracted and quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. Results: A total of 32 studies met the inclusion criteria, including 18 observational studies, 9 clinical trials, and 5 systematic reviews. The prevalence of V1 involvement in TN ranged from 4.8% to 15.3%, with a weighted average of 9.2%. High-resolution MRI was crucial for diagnosing neurovascular compression in V1 cases. Treatment modalities varied, with pharmacological treatments showing efficacy in 68.7% of patients, while surgical interventions like microvascular decompression and gamma knife radiosurgery achieved higher success rates but had associated risks. Psychological distress was notably higher in V1 patients. Conclusion: This review highlights the need for extensive epidemiological studies, standardized diagnostic criteria, and a deeper understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms in V1 TN. Long-term studies on treatment outcomes are essential for optimizing therapeutic strategies. Addressing these research gaps through large-scale, multicenter studies with standardized methodologies is crucial for advancing the understanding and management of V1 TN, ultimately improving patient care and quality of life.

Keywords

Neurovascular compression syndrome, ophthalmic branch, pathophysiology, treatment outcomes, high-resolution MRI, pharmacological treatment, surgical interventions, microvascular decompression, gamma knife radiosurgery.