Limbal stem cell deficiency following phototherapeutic keratectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a case of limbal stem cell (LSC) deficiency following phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK).


METHODS
We analyzed the case of a 67-year-old man who developed LSC deficiency in his left eye following PTK for recurrent epithelial erosions. Predisposing factors included diabetes mellitus and rosacea.


RESULTS
Surgical treatment consisted of debridement of the diseased corneal epithelium, followed by limbal autografting from the fellow eye. The cornea healed and remained transparent after 1 year. Histologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of LSC deficiency, showing the presence of goblet cells and inflammatory cells within the epithelium.


CONCLUSIONS
The extensive corneal mechanical debridement and laser photoablation incurred during phototherapeutic keratectomy can cause clinical LSC deficiency in patients with predisposing external diseases.
Nghiem-Buffet
Minh-Huyên
MH
Foundation Ohthalmologique A. de Rothschild, Paris, France.
Gatinel
Damien
D
Jacquot
Fabienne
F
Chaine
Gilles
G
Hoang-Xuan
Thanh
T
D000368:Aged; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D003646:Debridement; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016850:Limbus Corneae / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous