Simple limbal epithelial transplantation (a literature review)

Abstract

The review presents a new surgical approach and its clinical results for corneal epithelial reconstruction in patients with unilateral limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) of burn etiology. Simple limbal epithelial transplantation (SLET) is a novel surgical technique of limbal transplantation.SLET uses the healthy eye as a donor source for dissection of a 2×2 mm strip of limbal tissue, gluing an amniotic membrane after preparation the recipient contralateral ocular surface, distributing and gluing eight to ten small pieces of limbal tissue over an amniotic membrane. The new type of grafting utilizes tissue-preserving approach and as effective as transplantation of cultivated autologous limbal epithelial stem cells. Clinical finding demonstrated its efficiency, safety, and reproducibility. SLET provides a long-term reconstruction of the corneal epithelium for patients with unilateral LSCD in approximately 72-80% and a visual acuity improvement 72-75% of appropriately selected patients depending on age and eye co-morbidity.

Keywords

• limbal stem cell deficiency
• simple limbal epithelial transplantation
• ocular surface reconstruction
• cellular surgery