Long-term outcomes of a novel technique of simple limbal epithelial transplant (SLET) for treatment of recurrent pterygium

Session Details

Session Title: Cornea Surgical: Keratoplasties

Session Date/Time: Monday 16/09/2019 | 16:30-18:00

Paper Time: 17:48

Venue: Free Paper Forum: Podium 1

First Author: : T.Trinh CANADA

Co Author(s): :    Z. Mednick   N. Sorkin   G. Santaella   A. Telli   A. Slomovic                 

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To analyse the long-term outcomes of recurrent pterygium treated by the novel technique of simple limbal epithelial transplant (SLET) with a minimum of 6 months follow up.

Setting:

Tertiary Corneal Hospital Clinic, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Toronto.

Methods:

A retrospective, interventional study was performed including all patients with recurrent pterygium who underwent SLET surgery by a single surgeon using ipsilateral donor tissue with minimum six months follow up at Toronto Western Hospital, Canada. Outcome measures: rates of recurrence, best spectacle corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) and post-operative complications including steroid response.

Results:

Nine eyes of 9 patients were included. Mean age was 64.8+/-13.6 years (range 36-79 years). Average follow up time was 15.5+/- 10.2 months (range 6-38 months). Average years since last pterygium surgery was 10.6+/-8.7 years. There were no intraoperative complications. All SLET donor harvests were ipsilateral. Patients with a history of 2 or less pterygium surgeries had no further recurrences. Patient with 3 or more recurrences (n=2) experienced mild recurrence at 3 and 5 months respectively but were stable. 50% of patients experienced a transient steroid response. Two patients required keratoplasty for corneal scarring. None required repeat SLET operations.

Conclusions:

SLET is a useful novel technique to address recurrent pterygium. This case series is the largest known to utilise this technique. Cases with a history of two recurrences or less do well with SLET. Longer term follow up is required to establish the efficacy against recurrence. Cases with three or more pterygium recurrences may require further surgical management and concurrent treatment of limbal stem cell disease. In all recurrences post SLET, the recurrence was mild and less than the pterygium excised.

Financial Disclosure:

None