title: Tissue-engineered epithelium transplantation for severe ocular surface burns.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical outcomes of tissue-engineered epithelium transplantation for severe ocular surface burns.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective observational case series. From October 2005 to May 2011, 19 eyes of 19 patients with grade IV to VI ocular surface burns (Dua Classification) were treated by autologous transplantation of corneal stem cells cultivated on a fibrin gel membrane, with a mean follow-up of 16.2 months (range 12-36 months). Postoperative corneal surface stability, visual acuity (VA), corneal opacity, and neovascularization were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No corneal perforations occurred and the entire corneal surface was free from epithelial defects in all eyes. At the final follow-up visit, VA in 17 eyes was improved after surgery, with 6 eyes achieving a VA of 20/100 or better. Corneal vascularization was significantly reduced in 17 (89.5%) eyes. Corneal opacity was also improved in 12 (63.2%) eyes. All donor eyes remained healthy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tissue-engineered epithelium transplantation can promote rapid reepithelialization of the ocular surface, inhibit corneal neovascularization, and improve vision for patients with severe ocular surface burns.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, First Hospital Affiliated to Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100048, China. gq641031@sina.com
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, First Hospital Affiliated to Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100048, China.
authors.forename: Yuli
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pi
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, First Hospital Affiliated to Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100048, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, First Hospital Affiliated to Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100048, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D003315:Cornea / Q000166:cytology*; D016510:Corneal Neovascularization; D004848:Epithelium / Q000637:transplantation*; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014792:Visual Acuity