title: Limbal Stem Cell Allografts and Corneal Transplant in a Patient with Severe Corneal Melting and Perforation due to Thermokeratoplasty and Cross-Linking Treatment Burn.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report corneal stem cell allografts in a patient with a persistent epithelial defect as well as corneal melting and perforation due to severe ultraviolet light burn and thermokeratoplasty treatment for keratoconus.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 21-year-old female patient with corneal melting, perforation and a persistent epithelial defect in her left eye secondary to iatrogenic treatment for keratoconus, thermokeratoplasty and cross-linking was treated with penetrating keratoplasty, using a 9.0-mm diameter corneal graft and limbal stem cell allograft implants. At the end of the procedure, subtenonian injections of a combination of bevacizumab and triamcinolone were given.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patient had a favorable outcome 48 h after surgery, with an improvement of symptoms and a complete corneal healing. By the third week after surgery, she had a best-corrected visual acuity of 20/60 and a clear corneal graft, which remained stable for the 9 months of follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with limbal stem cell allografts and penetrating keratoplasty in a female patient with a large corneal defect and melting in her left eye was effective. Larger studies are warranted to explore the real impact of this procedure.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Oftalmologico Privado, Irapuato, Mexico.
authors.forename: Leopoldo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Garduño-Vieyra
authors.forename: Claudia Ruth
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Sergio E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Hernandez-Da Mota