Corneal stromal changes following simple limbal epithelial transplantation on Scheimpflug densitometry: Early results.

Context: Chemical injury to eyes causes limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD), which leads to conjunctival epithelium and underlying stromal changes. Simple limbal epithelial transplant helps to restore corneal epithelium and corneal stromal clarity. These changes are documented in this prospective eye study.

Purpose: To report the changes in epithelial/stromal (E/S) reflectivity ratio and corneal stromal densitometry following simple limbal epithelial transplantation (SLET) in patients with unilateral chemical burn-induced LSCD.

Methods and material: It is a prospective imaging study of cornea before and after SLET. Corneal densitometry with Pentacam and epithelial and stromal reflectivity on anterior segment optical coherence tomography were analyzed for five patients (n = 5 eyes), who underwent autologous SLET for unilateral chemical burn-induced LSCD.

Statistical analysis used: Mann-Whitney U-test and Pearson correlation.

Results: A significant improvement in E/S reflectivity was noted at 1 month ( P < 0.05) after SLET, and this was maintained until the end of 6 months. The densitometry measurements decreased in the entire cornea at every level, that is, anterior, central, and posterior cornea. However, the values did not normalize till the last follow-up at 6 months.

Conclusions: A trend of normal corneal epithelization exists in eyes undergoing SLET. Densitometry at all the levels, the anterior, central, and posterior cornea, also decreases after SLET. SLET improves visual outcomes in LSCD eyes not only by epithelization but also by reducing stromal scarring.