Cultivated autologous limbal epithelial transplantation for symptomatic bullous keratopathy

We report the clinical outcome of cultivated autologous limbal epithelial transplantation for symptomatic bullous keratopathy in an 87-year-old female patient presenting with recurrent corneal erosion and intractable ocular pain. The patient refused corneal transplantation, and transplantation of a cultivated autologous limbal epithelial sheet was carried out to free her of the symptoms associated with chronic pseudophakic bullous keratopathy. Both integrity of transplanted epithelium and relief from intolerable ocular pain were achieved and maintained immediately after surgery. No complications were noted in either the transplanted eye or donor eye during the 43-month follow-up period. Our findings support that patients with bullous keratopathy not consenting to procedures to improve visual acuity in whom the primary aim is relief of symptoms may benefit from cultivated autologous limbal epithelial transplantation.