Abstract
Purpose: :
To compare outcomes of autologous limbal transplantation (LT) and cultivated autologous limbal epithelial transplantation (CLET) for the treatment of severe ocular surface disorders due to chemical and thermal injury.
Methods: :
Retrospective analysis was made in 10 eyes of CLET for total limbal deficiency due to chemical and thermal injury. The results were compared with eyes undergone LT in a case-controlled manner in terms of age and severity. Both groups included seven males and three females. Mean(±SD) age of LT group was 39.7±21.0 years and CLET group was 41.2±18.7 years. We excluded patients with followed-up period of less than 12 months. We compared CVA and the stability of the corneal surface between them.
Results: :
Combined surgery with keratoplasty was performed in 2 eyes of CLET group. Secondary keratoplasty was performed in 5 eyes in the LT group and 4 eyes in the CLET group. Pre-operative average CVA was 20/2000 in both groups. Post-operative average CVA was 20/400 and 20/500 at 3 months, 20/250 and 20/600 at 6 months and 20/300 and 20/600 at 12 months after surgery in the LT and CLET groups, respectively. There was a statistically significant improvement of CVA after 12 months in both groups (LT: P=0.041, CLET: P=0.037), although there were no statistical differences between the groups. Although the stable ocular surface was achieved in 8 eyes of the LT group and 6 eyes of the CLET group, corneal superficial neovasculization were more common and transparency seemed to be less in the CLET group. During the follow-up, corneal ulcer was seen in one eye in each group and secondary glaucoma was noted in one eye and 2 eyes in the in LT and CLET groups, respectively. There were no complications in the donor eyes.
Conclusions: :
Both autologous LT and CLET are useful for the stability of the corneal surface in severe chemical and thermal injury.
Keywords: cornea: epithelium • transplantation • neovascularization