Indications for keratoepithelioplasty

Abstract

Thirteen patients with ocular surface failure were treated by keratoepithelioplasty using allografts of corneal limbal epithelial cells from donor eyes. The ocular surface was stabilized with long-term healing of persistent epithelial defects in five of eight eyes followed up for 4 to 19 months. The procedure was performed on an additional 5 patients with superficial keratopathies. Three of those five procedures resulted in a stable and clear optical surface. These results suggest that epithelial transplantation may be a useful option in the care of chronic ocular surface failure unresponsive to conventional medical management.