Simple limbal epithelial transplantation: Outcome and consequences

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of auto simple limbal epithelial transplantation (SLET) and alloSLET in patients with different causes of limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD). Study Type: Single-center prospective interventional study. Materials and Methods: Patients visiting tertiary referral hospital between April 2019 and March 2020 satisfying the criteria for labeling LSCD, also inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled. Results: Thirty-one eyes of 31 patients (20 men, 11 women) underwent SLET surgery (15 autoSLET, 16 alloSLET). The most common etiology in patients undergone SLET was chemical injury (11, 35.5%) followed by Stevens–Johnson syndrome/Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (SJS/TEN) (9, 29.0%). SJS/TEN was the most common cause of bilateral LSCD. Combined successful outcome of autoSLET and alloSLET was 64.5%. Conclusion: SLET is a simple, useful surgery to restore LSC and it does not require any specialized center and can be done in a center with limited resources.

Keywords

• allo simple limbal epithelial transplantation
• auto simple limbal epithelial transplantation
• limbal stem cell deficiency
• simple limbal epithelial transplantation