[Limbal stem cell deficiency management. A review]

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Regenerative Medicine
• Stem Cell Biology

Background:

• Limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) often results from severe eye burns, impairing corneal regeneration.
• This deficiency leads to conjunctivalization, corneal opacification, ulceration, and neovascularization, causing blindness.
• LSCD disrupts the homeostasis of the entire ocular surface, including conjunctiva, eyelids, and tear film.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the evolving management strategies for limbal stem cell deficiency.
• To highlight advancements in understanding limbal stem cell anatomy and physiology.
• To present cultivated limbal epithelial and oral mucosal epithelial transplantations as potential therapeutic options.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on limbal stem cell deficiency.
• Analysis of therapeutic advances in stem cell transplantation for ocular surface reconstruction.
• Evaluation of cultivated limbal epithelial transplantation (CLET) and oral mucosal epithelial transplantation (OMET) as treatment modalities.

Main Results:

• Significant progress has been made in understanding LSCD and developing stem cell-based therapies.
• CLET and OMET have emerged as promising alternatives to traditional treatments.
• These advanced techniques offer hope for restoring vision in patients with severe ocular surface damage.

Conclusions:

• Cultivated limbal epithelial and oral mucosal epithelial transplantations represent viable and effective alternatives for treating limbal stem cell deficiency.
• Continued research and clinical application of these regenerative approaches are crucial for improving patient outcomes.
• These treatments offer a renewed hope for restoring visual function and quality of life for severely affected individuals.