Eyeworld

47 EW CORNEA June 2016 Contact information Amescua: gamescua@med.miami.edu Basu: sayanbasu@lvpei.org be available in the U.S., but with the current evidence I think more sur- geons will be willing to start doing SLET. We should continue to im- prove our stem cell expansion labs and research this fascinating area of ocular surface reconstruction so we can improve patient outcomes." In an audience poll conducted at the "Pardon the Ophthalmology: Hot Topics in Cornea and External Disease" symposium at the 2016 ASCRS•ASOA Symposium & Con- gress, SLET was voted the best tech- nique for limbal stem cell transplan- tation, receiving 53% of the votes as compared to conjunctival limbal grafting (35%) and CLET (13%). Future research, Dr. Amescua said, will include creating an animal model that allows them to track the cells to answer questions such as where the new cells are being made: Are the transplants repopulating the stem cell niche at the limbus or are they becoming "satellites, little areas of production for cells"? Dr. Basu said he and his col- leagues are conducting research using in vivo imaging to understand how the corneal surface is healing after the procedure. Their results, which will be published soon, in- clude observations that the regen- eration of the limbal stem cells is permanent. "Why [SLET] is an important breakthrough is that it makes limbal stem cell therapy accessible to pa- tients and surgeons alike," Dr. Basu said. "[There are] trained corneal surgeons who are working all over the world with patients who needed treatment but were not able to pro- vide it to them either because they did not have a stem cell laboratory or because they didn't want to do a radical therapy like conjunctival limbal grafting. What SLET does is it bridges this gap. "We want more people with LSCD to get treatment that will help them see," Dr. Basu said. He thinks SLET is the procedure that will ac- complish that. EW References 1. Sangwan VS, et al. Simple limbal epithe- lial transplantation (SLET): a novel surgical technique for the treatment of unilateral limbal stem cell deficiency. Br J Ophthalmol. 2012;96:931–4. 2. Basu S, et al. Simple limbal epithelial transplantation: long-term clinical outcomes in 125 cases of unilateral chronic ocular surface burns. Ophthalmology. 2016;123:1000–10. 3. Vazirani J, et al. Autologous simple limbal epithelial transplantation for unilateral limbal stem cell deficiency: multicentre results. Br J Ophthalmol. 27 January 2016. [Epub ahead of print] Editors' note: The physicians have no financial interests related to their comments. TRUE SURGICAL SOLUTIONS Premier Edge, SOFT CELL, SOFT SHIELD and OASIS names and logos are registered trademarks of OASIS Medical, Inc. 514 S. Vermont Ave, Glendora, CA 91741. LIT-SRG-Ad1 Rev.0 www.oasismedical.com (844) 820-8940 (USA Toll Free) (909) 305-5400 Request a catalog from customerservice@oasismedical.com FEATHER ® Stab Incision Ref # 715 Premier Edge ® Safety Slit Ref # PE3128–SL Chang Cannula Ref # 4036J SOFT CELL ® PVA Spears Ref # 0525 SOFT SHIELD ® Collagen Shield (dissolution times: 12 – 72hrs) Ref # 7012 OASIS ® IRIS EXPANDER Ref # 9625S There is no such thing as a routine surgery. There is always room for improvement. Prepare with confidence.

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