Successful Transplantation of Bioengineered Tissue Replacements in Patients with Ocular Surface Disease

Abstract

This novel technique documents that presumed corneal epithelial stem cells can be harvested safely from the limbus, expanded successfully in vitro, and grown on denuded amniotic membrane. The resultant composite cultured tissue can be transplanted and appears to successfully manage eyes with difficult ocular surface disease, including those with stem cell deficiency. This technique minimizes the threat of damage or depletion to the contralateral or donor limbus.