A Pilot Study Of Using Smile-Derived Corneal Stromal Lenticules Preserved In Nutrient Capsules For The Treatment Of Corneal Diseases
Published 2024 - 42nd Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: FP24.09 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/982j-8021
Authors: Zhe Zhang* 1 , Xingtao Zhou 1 , Jing Zhao 1
1Eye and ENT hospital of Fudan university,Shanghai,China
Purpose
To investigate the safety and efficacy of using small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE)-derived corneal stromal lenticules preserved in nutrient capsules for the treatment of corneal diseases.
Setting
All procedures were performed by the same surgeon at the Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University (Shanghai, China). Nine eyes with corneal opacity underwent phototherapeutic keratectomy combined with epikeratophakia (PTK-EP) surgery and 1 eye with keratectasia underwent the lenticule intrastromal keratoplasty (LIKE) surgery (Table 1). Corneal stromal lenticules of appropriate refraction and thickness was selected for transplantation based on the recipient's preoperative refraction
Methods
Corneal stromal lenticules which used for transplantation was extracted from healthy myopia patients and stored in nutrient capsules at 4°C for 28 days. Patients underwent slit-lamp microscopy, uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), subjective refraction, corneal topography, and anterior segment optical coherence tomography evaluations preoperative and were followed-up at 1-week, 1-month, 3-months, and 1-year postoperatively.
Results
CDVA increased by at least two lines in seven eyes and by one line in one eye, while remaining unchanged in two eyes. There was no significant difference found in the comparison of each postoperative corneal thickness to preoperative measures (P7d = 0.99; P1m = 0.99; P3m = 0.99; P1y = 0.57). The lenticules maintained a good degree of transparency 1-year post-operatively and adhered closely to the adjacent tissue. Intraocular pressure remained stable from preoperatively to all points postoperatively ( P7d = 0.70; P1m = 0.66; P3m = 0.99; P1y = 0.98). There were no significant difference in corneal endothelial cell density values between pre and post-operative time points ( P7d = 0.99; P1m = 0.99; P3m = 0.99; P1y = 0.57).
Conclusions
SMILE-derived corneal stromal lenticules after nutrient capsule preservation can be stored for long time and used as allografts for treating corneal disease with good safety and efficacy.