Serial anterior segment optical coherence tomography post autologous simple limbal epithelial transplantation

Abstract

A 24-year-old young man presented to us with total limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) in the right eye 1 year post ocular chemical burn. The patient subsequently underwent limbal biopsy in the healthy contralateral eye and autologous simple limbal epithelial transplantation in the right eye. The patient was followed up with sequential imaging of the cornea with high-resolution anterior segment optical coherence tomography (HR-ASOCT) for 3 years. The serial HR-ASOCT imaging in the operated eye showed regeneration of the epithelium from the limbal transplant over the human amniotic membrane (hAM) with integration of the transplant within the cornea with subepithelial retention of the hAM. Over the long-term follow-up, thinning of the hAM and thickening of the epithelium was noted. At 3 years, the cornea maintained an intact epithelium with no signs of recurrence of LSCD.

Safety and Efficacy of Contact Lenses in Eyes After Simple Limbal Epithelial Transplantation

“…The possible explanation for this could be that limbal biopsies contain mesenchymal stromal cells in addition to LESCs which may be responsible for reducing corneal scarring in these eyes. 27 In studies on the reflectivity patterns of corneal stroma post-SLET, Kate et al 28,29 found that the changes of stromal remodeling continued until the 1year follow-up period of the study. This could obviate or delay the need for keratoplasty, and in this period, a CL trial should be offered.…”