Submandibular gland transfer in the correction of dry eye

Following rabbit experiments which showed that microvascular submandibular gland transfer could ameliorate the deleterious effects of lacrimal gland ablation, a clinical transfer of the submandibular salivary gland to the temple region was performed. The beneficial results from this initial operation have led to the procedure being used in a total of eight patients with 12 transfers. The procedure has led to increased moisture in the eye and decreased symptoms but the assessment of change in corneal function and pathology is difficult.