The ocular surface after simple limbal epithelial transplant (SLET): A high-resolution OCT study of the early postoperative period

Abstract

Simple limbal epithelial transplantation (SLET) is an emerging technique for treating unilateral limbal stem cell deficiency. We report the high-resolution, anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) features of the first 2 weeks of a patient undergoing SLET for an old acid injury of the right eye, repeatedly from postoperative day 1 through day 14. Three out of 11 explants with the subjacent human amniotic membrane (hAM) and the overlaid bandage contact lens were imaged. The hAM was intact and of the same thickness throughout the study period; the sub-hAM space increased from day 3 to 9 and disappeared by day 10; the explants started thinning from day 3 with the fibrin around them starting to decrease from day 2 and completely disappeared by day 4. Epithelialization occurred between day 8 and 14 and proceeded more rapidly towards the limbus than centrally. There was no change of the corneal stromal thickness or reflectivity. This case report uses high-definition, spectral-domain OCT to document the events on the ocular surface after a successful SLET surgery and opens up an avenue to study epithelialization in a convenient and noninvasive manner.