title: Application of the SMILE-Derived Glued Lenticule Patch Graft in Microperforations and Partial-Thickness Corneal Defects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the initial clinical outcomes of the small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE)-derived glued lenticule patch graft for management of microperforations and complicated corneal tears.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this single-center case series, 7 eyes (of 7 patients) that presented with microperforations, partial-thickness corneal defect, and traumatic complicated corneal tear were repaired with a lenticule patch graft obtained from Refractive Lenticule Extraction (ReLEx) with the SMILE procedure. The patch was secured to the recipient eye using fibrin glue. Preoperatively, anterior segment optical coherence tomography was used to assess the depth of the defect and to decide the thickness of the lenticule. Patients were followed up on days 1, 7, and 15 and at 1 and 3 months postoperatively. Main outcome parameters measured were best-corrected visual acuity, clarity of the graft, and restoration of optical and tectonic integrity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All surgeries were uneventful. Significant improvement in visual acuity was seen from 15 days onward in 5 of 7 eyes. The lenticule graft was well apposed and remained clear until the last follow-up visit in all eyes treated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patch graft from the SMILE-derived lenticule using fibrin glue seems to serve as a safe, feasible, and inexpensive surgical option for the management of microperforations and complicated corneal tears, especially in centers that perform the SMILE procedure in large numbers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cornea, Nethradhama Superspeciality Eye Hospital, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Vipul
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bhandari
authors.forename: Sri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ganesh
authors.forename: Sheetal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brar
authors.forename: Rahul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pandey
mesh_terms: D000269:Adhesives; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D057112:Corneal Perforation / Q000601:surgery*; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000601:surgery*; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000269:Adhesives