title: Long-Term Outcomes of Cultivated Limbal Epithelial Transplantation: Evaluation and Comparison of Results in Children and Adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the long-term clinical outcomes of cultivated limbal epithelial transplantation (CLET) in children and adults with limbal stem cell deficiency.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case records of patients with limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) who underwent CLET from April 2004 to December 2014 were studied. Outcome measures were compared in terms of anatomical success and visual improvement. Parameters for total anatomical success were avascular, epithelized, and clinically stable corneal surface without conjunctivalization, whereas partial anatomical success was considered when mild vascularization (sparing centre of cornea) and mild conjunctivalization were noted along with complete epithelization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 62 cases underwent the CLET procedure: 38 (61.3%) were children and 24 (38.7%) were adults. Patients with unilateral LSCD (33 children and 21 adults) had autografts and those with bilateral LSCD (5 children and 3 adults) had allografts. Amongst the 54 autografts partial and total anatomical success were noted in 21.2% and 66.6% children, respectively, and 19.0% and 80.9% in adults, respectively (p value 0.23). Visual improvement of 1 line and ≥2 lines was seen in 57.5% and 21.2% children, respectively, and 38% and 38% in adults, respectively (p value 0.31).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cultivated limbal epithelial transplantation gives good long-term results in patients with LSCD and the outcomes are comparable in children and adults.
authors.affiliation: Cornea, Refractive and Ocular Surface Rehabilitation Services, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ganger
authors.affiliation: Cornea, Refractive and Ocular Surface Rehabilitation Services, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vanathi
authors.affiliation: Centre of Excellence for Stem Cell Research, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India.
authors.forename: Sujata
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mohanty
authors.affiliation: Cornea, Refractive and Ocular Surface Rehabilitation Services, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India.
authors.forename: Radhika
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tandon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000637:transplantation*; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013234:Stem Cells; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology