Table 2.
Post-operative characteristics and outcomes of ocular surface stem cell transplantation via contact lens delivery
| Case | Type of graft | Follow-up, years | Complications during cell culture | Procedure performed in trial | Subsequent procedures | Pre-operative visual acuity | Post-operative visual acuity | Ocular surface | Notes | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | 5.75 | CL rolled under superior lid, required insertion of second CL | SCT + SK | - | 6/60 + 1 | 6/45 | Central clear, peripheral pannus | Glaucoma, DE, subepithelial scarring | S |
| 2 | L | 5.67 | biopsy retained in cornea | SCT + SK | DSEK (endothelial decompensation), CE/IOL | 6/18-1 | 6/60 | Central clear, peripheral vascularisation | Endothelial decompensation | S |
| 3 | L | 5.33 | Nil | SCT + SK | - | CF at 0.2 m | LP | Central clear, peripheral vascularisation | Stromal scarring, corneal stromal opacity, cataracts | S |
| 4 | C | 2.92 (lost to follow-up) | Nil | SCT + SK | - | 6/45 | 6/36 | Central clear, superior peripheral pannus | Subepithelial scarring | S |
| 5 | C | 4.67 | Second biopsy, no/poor growth | SCT + SK | - | CF at 0.5 m | 1/60 | Central clear, peripheral pannus | Stromal scarring | S |
| 6 | C | 4.17 | Second biopsy, no/poor growth | SCT + PK | PK + HAM graft (failed transplant), blepharoplasty, CE/IOL, Molteno implant | HM | 6/60 | PED | Corneal astigmatism, glaucoma, DE | F |
| 7 | L | 3.25 | Second biopsy, no/poor growth | SCT + SK | - | CF at 1 m | CF at 1 m | PED, recurrent corneal vascularisation | Subepithelial scarring | F |
| 8 | L | 2.58 | Nil | SCT + PK | YAG | HM | 0.5/60 | PED | Graft astigmatism, stromal scarring | F |
| 9 | L | 0.75 | Small defect created on removal of CL | SCT + SK | - | 6/6 | 6/6 | Central clear | Corneal astigmatism, subepithelial scarring | S |
| 10 | C | 2.42 | Nil | SCT + SK | - | CF at 2 m | 6/90 | Central clear, ulcers from toxicity of glaucoma meds | DE, severe glaucoma, progressive corneal oedema, stromal scarring | S |
| 11 | C | 2.17 | Nil | SCT + SK + EDTA + BV diathermy | - | 2/60. | 1.5/60 | Central clear, pannus to graft-host junction | DE, postoperative endophthalmitis (prior PTK), corneal ectasia, subep scarring | S |
| 12 | L | 2.25 | Second biopsy, no/poor growth | SCT + PK + CE/IOL | - | 3/60 | CF | Irregular epithelium, graft opacity, PEEs, PEDx2 on graft | DE, glaucoma, ocular surface toxicity, stromal scarring | F |
| 13 | L | 2 | Nil | SCT | HAM transplant (corneal ulcer) + tarsorrhaphy, PK (corneal perforation) | HM | HM | Swirled epithelium, PED, recurrent corneal vascularisation | Stromal scarring | F |
| 14 | C | 1.92 | Nil | SCT + PK | HM | 6/90 | Central clear, mild subepithelial haze, <2 clock hours of superior-temporal whorl-like corneal staining | DE, graft astigmatism, glaucoma, stromal scarring | PS | |
| 15 | C | 1.67 | Nil | SCT + SK | EDTA | 6/36 | 6/90 | Central clear | LK, stromal scarring | S |
| 16 | C | 1.67 | Nil | SCT + SK | Cyclodiode laser | 2/60. | 1/60 | Corneal ulcer, PED | DE, stromal scarring, glaucoma | F |
BV, blood vessel; C, conjunctival; CE/IOL, cataract extraction/intraocular lens; CF, counting fingers; CL, contact lens; DE, dry eye; DSEK, Descemet’s stripping endothelial keratoplasty; EDTA, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid chelation therapy for band keratopathy; F, failure; HAM, human amniotic membrane; HM, hand movements; L, limbal; LK, lipid keratopathy; LP, light perception; PED, persistent epithelial defect; PEEs, punctate epithelial erosions; PK, penetrating keratoplasty; PS, partial success; PTK, phototherapuetic keratectomy; S, success; SCT, stem cell transplant; SK, superficial keratectomy; YAG, yttrium aluminium garnet capsulotomy.