Current progress and challenges in ocular surface reconstruction using cultivated epithelial sheet transplantation

Med J Malaysia. 2008 Jul:63 Suppl A:42.

Abstract

The cultivated epithelial transplantation is a new surgical modality for treating a variety of severe ocular surface disorders. This type of tissue-engineered epithelial sheet provides a rapid epithelial coverage on the corneal surface that reduces inflammation and postoperative complications. Although cultivated corneal epithelial transplantation is an effective surgical strategy, autologous transplantation is limited to unilateral cases. Autologous cultivated oral mucosal epithelial transplantation (COMET) enables surgeons to reconstruct the ocular surface using autologous, non-ocular surface cells, and has opened a new pathway for treating severe, bilateral ocular surface disorders.

MeSH terms

  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cornea / cytology
  • Cornea / pathology*
  • Corneal Diseases / pathology
  • Corneal Diseases / surgery*
  • Epithelial Cells / cytology*
  • Epithelial Cells / transplantation
  • Epithelium / transplantation*
  • Eye / pathology*
  • Eye Diseases / surgery*
  • Eye Diseases / therapy
  • Humans
  • Inflammation
  • Mouth Mucosa / transplantation*
  • Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures / methods*
  • Pilot Projects
  • Plastic Surgery Procedures
  • Tissue Engineering / methods*
  • Transplantation, Autologous