A wide variety of factors can negatively impact the surface of the eyes, compromising vision, comfort, and the ability to combat infection. Corneal eye diseases may cause blurry vision, loss of vision, ocular surface scarring and other uncomfortable forms of corneal damage. Limbal stem cells are necessary for the maintenance of a clear cornea. When these cells are damaged, traditional corneal transplants invariably fail. Once healthy limbal stem cells are transplanted, a traditional corneal transplant can be performed.
Certain conditions or diseases can cause limbal stem cells to malfunction or even destroy them. These include chemical burns, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, ocular cicatricial pemphigoid and other inflammatory diseases of the surface of the eye. If the stem cells are damaged, the eye can no longer heal its surface.
A healthy eye can readily renew itself by using stem cells for regeneration. Ocular surface reconstruction is a surgical method that is used to treat this condition, and includes the use of amniotic membranes and/or limbal stem cell transplantation. MECA surgeons have had special training in using a wide array of techniques and treatments such as medication, surgery, and transplantation to rebuild or restore the eye’s surface.
We look forward to helping these challenging patients improve their vision and restore both the function and appearance of the surface of the eye.