Early Results of Autologous Cultivated Limbal Stem Cell Transplantation in Total Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency

Purpose: to report the early results of transplantation of autologous limbal stem cellscultivated on amniotic membrane (am) in patients with total unilateral limbal stem celldeficiency (lscd).methods: four eyes of 4 patients with total unilateral lscd confirmed with impressioncytology underwent transplantation of autologous limbal stem cell cultivated on am. ateach follow up visit, a complete eye examination with special attention to recurrence orregression of vascularization, corneal opacification, and epithelial defect healing wasperformed. digital imaging was performed at each follow up visit. impression cytologywas repeated in all cases after surgery.results: the patients were followed for 5-13 months. visual acuity improved in allcases. decrease in corneal opacification and vascularization was obvious in 3 cases withcoverage of the cornea with corneal epithelium. sectoral conjunctivalization was evidentin these 3 cases, however the corneas were ready for transplantation. the procedurefailed in one case with total corneal conjunctivalization.conclusion: transplantation of autologous stem cells cultivated on am seems to be aneffective way for total lscd. more definite judgment needs longer follow up togetherwith long-term results of corneal transplantation in these patients.