Abstract
Purpose: :
To investigate the long-term outcome of autologous cultivated corneal limbal epithelial transplantation (CLET) for the treatment of unilateral severe ocular surface disorders (OSD).
Methods: :
This study involved 6 eyes of 6 patients who received autologous CLET for total limbal stem-cell deficiency. These consisted of 3 eyes with thermal and chemical injury and 3 eyes with idiopathic OSD. Autologous CLET sheets were created using amniotic membrane as a substrate. Clinical efficacy was evaluated by the postoperative visual acuity (VA). The clinical results (clinical conjunctivalization, corneal neovascularization, and symblepharon formation) were evaluated and graded on a scale from 0 to 3 according to their severity. Clinical safety was evaluated by persistent epithelial defects, ocular hypertension, and infections.
Results: :
Autologous CLET sheets were successfully generated from all 6 patients. The patients were followed-up for a mean period of 48 months; the longest follow-up period was 80 months. Best corrected VA and final VA was improved in 5 eyes (83.3%). During the long-term follow-up period, postoperative complications such as persistent epithelial defects, ocular hypertension and symblepharon formation were not observed. All cases showed a various degree of mild superficial clinical conjunctivalization extending from the limbal region.
Conclusions: :
These long-term clinical results strongly support the conclusion that tissue-engineered CLET sheets are useful for reconstructing the ocular surface of unilateral severe OSD.
Clinical Trial: :
61396
Keywords: cornea: clinical science • cornea: epithelium