Case series of cultivated oral mucosa epithelium transplantation for limbal stem cell failure

experience in Malaysia

  • Kah Lay Oh Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre
  • Aida Zahidin Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre
  • Umi Kalthum Md Noh Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre
  • Safinaz Mohd Khialdin Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre
  • Ghee Chien Ooi Cryocord Sdn. Bhd.
  • Kong Yong Then International Specialist Eye Centre
DOI: https://doi.org/10.35119/asjoo.v16i2.375
Keywords: acne rosacea, chemical injury, corneal transplant, cultivated oral mucosa epithelial transplantation (COMET), Steven-Johnsons syndrome (SJS)

Abstract

Purpose: To report a case series of seven eyes (six patients) with severe limbal stem cell failure who underwent cultivated oral mucosa epithelium transplantation (COMET) in preparation for corneal transplant surgery and assess the change in visual acuity postoperatively.

Design: Case series.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of an interventional case series of six patients with severe limbal stem cell deficiency who underwent COMET between 2012 and 2015 was performed. Six eyes had COMET followed by corneal transplant, and one eye had corneal transplant preceding COMET. The change in the visual acuity after operation was evaluated.

Results: A total of six patients with seven eyes were studied. All of them had severe ocular surface disease with limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) secondary to chemical injury (five eyes), SJS (one eye), and severe ocular rosacea (one eye). Four eyes had improvements in visual acuity, two of which achieved best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 6/12.

Conclusion: The use of COMET helps to optimize the ocular surface in severe LSCD for further corneal transplant surgeries. It has helped to improve the graft uptake and subsequent visual improvement, especially in chronic chemical burn cases.

 

Author Biography

Kah Lay Oh, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre
Trainee in Ophthalmology Department

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Published
2018-11-21
How to Cite
Oh, K., Zahidin, A., Md Noh, U., Mohd Khialdin, S., Ooi, G., & Then, K. (2018). Case series of cultivated oral mucosa epithelium transplantation for limbal stem cell failure. Asian Journal of Ophthalmology, 16(2), 110-118. https://doi.org/10.35119/asjoo.v16i2.375
Issue
Vol 16 No 2 (2018): Asian Journal of Ophthalmology
Section
Case Reports/Case Series

Copyright (c) 2018 Asian Journal of Ophthalmology

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