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Updated: Jan 31, 2026

Author Spotlight: Advancing Corneal Innervation Research Through Innovative Models
Published on: December 8, 2023
Healing of resistant corneal neurotrophic ulcers using a matrix regenerating agent
B Cochener1, C Zagnoli1, C Hugny-Larroque1
1Service d'Ophtalmologie, hôpital Morvan, CHU de Brest, 2, avenue Foch, 29609 Brest, France.
Purpose:
To assess the success rate of a matrix regenerating agent (RGTA) in the treatment of chronic corneal ulcers resistant to conventional treatments.
Methods:
Uncontrolled prospective observational study in patients with corneal neurotrophic ulcer (Stage 2 or 3 of the Mackie classification), unresponsive to standard medical or surgical treatments and managed with RGTA as an adjunctive treatment. Corneal ulcers were evaluated using slit-lamp examination and optical coherence tomography after 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months and 3 months. Success was defined as complete corneal healing.
Results:
RGTA was administered to 20 patients (20 eyes) with chronic corneal ulcers of various causes, including keratoplasty (7 eyes, 35.0%), herpetic keratitis (5 eyes, 25.0%) and intracorneal ring (3 eyes, 15.0%). Total corneal healing was observed in 13/20 patients (65.0%) within 1 to 3 months. RGTA was discontinued due to partial healing/ulcer stagnation in 6 patients (30.0%), and aggravation of the ulcer in 1 patient (5.0%). Relapses were reported in 4 patients (20.0%) several months after cessation of RGTA treatment. No adverse reactions were noted.
Conclusions:
In the event of failure of conventional treatments, RGTA may be an alternative medical treatment for patients with chronic corneal ulcers, avoiding the need to resort to surgical treatment.
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