Abstract
Purpose: :
To report the outcome of using fibrin glue to secure conjunctival limbal allograft (CLAL) and conjunctival limbal autograft (CLAU) alone or combined with Keratolimbal allograft (KLAL)
Methods: :
In this case study, five eyes of five limbal stem cell deficiency patients underwent CLAU (three eyes), CLAL (one eyes) and combined CLAU and KLAL (one eye) between January 2006 and June 2009. Only fibrin glue was used to secure the grafts and no sutures were used. The measured outcomes were graft attachment, duration of epithelial defect healing, survival of the transplants, visual acuity and any post operative complications.
Results: :
The mean follow up was 17.0 (range: 3-32) months. There was no graft detachment or dislocations postoperatively. The mean epithelial healing time was 10.4 (±1.7) days. All ocular surface transplants were stable at last follow up. The mean best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) pre-operation for four cases (80%) was 20/320 (range: 20/800-20/200) which improved to 20/50 (range: 20/63-20/50) post operatively. The BCVA of combined CLAU and KLAL case who developed corneal endothelial rejection after Penetrating Keratoplasty (PK) was not improved (pre and post operation: 20/1600).
Conclusions: :
Fibrin glue can be used for limbal stem cell transplantation to efficiently secure the grafts. This can potentially improve surgical efficiency and patient’s comfort post-operatively.
Keywords: cornea: clinical science • transplantation