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Updated: Jan 11, 2026
Author Spotlight: Standardizing Limbal Niche Cell (LNC) Isolation and Characterization to Support Widespread LNC Research
Published on: October 27, 2023
Demographics, Prevalence, and Characteristics of Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency in Southern California
Clemence Bonnet1, Qihua Le1, Daniel Cordova1
1Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA; and.
Purpose:
To report the prevalence, incidence, demographic characteristics, and clinical presentation of limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD).
Methods:
Retrospective review of medical records of patients with a diagnosis of LSCD at tertiary eye hospitals affiliated with the University of California, Los Angeles from January 1, 2007 to October 31, 2024.
Results:
A total of 6927 individual records were reviewed. The diagnosis of LSCD was confirmed in 1233 eyes (919 subjects: 539 males, 43.7%), representing an estimated a prevalence of the disease of 3.6 per 100,000 people and an incidence of 68.5 eyes per year. The average number of new LSCD cases was 107 per year per 18.3 million from 2014 to 2024 in the great Los Angeles area. The median age was 66 years old (range, 8-99 years), and 59.9% of patients were older than 60 years. Bilateral involvement was seen in 426 (46.4%) patients. LSCD was classified as stage I in 458 (37.1%) eyes, stage II in 285 (23.1%) eyes, and stage III in 490 (39.7%) eyes. Visual axis was involved in 671 eyes (54.4%). Median BCVA was 0.69 (range 0-2.6) logMAR (mean 0.97 ± 0.83). The leading causes were multiple ocular surgeries with the use of antimetabolites (446 eyes, 36.2%) and contact lens wear (237 eyes, 19.2%). Chemical burns accounted for 66 eyes (5.4%).
Conclusions:
LSCD affects older population, and multiple eye surgeries and contract lens wear are the leading etiologies in Southern California. The incidence of the disease remains rare.
