Study finds persistent nerve damage after limbal stem cell transplant in severe eye burns

Autologous cultivated limbal epithelial transplantation can restore the ocular surface in severe burn-related limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD), but it does not regenerate corneal nerves, leaving patients at continued risk for neurotrophic keratopathy, according to a study.

Researchers at the Royal Victoria Infirmary followed 23 patients with unilateral total LSCD. Corneal sensation in the affected eyes showed a slight, non-significant improvement 6 months after surgery, but in vivo confocal microscopy showed no nerve regeneration even up to 36 months post-procedure.

The authors recommend ongoing treatment with blood-derived eye drops and consideration of emerging therapies, including insulin-like growth factor and recombinant human nerve growth factor drugs.

Reference
Figueiredo GS, Stefanache T, Baylis OJ, et al. Prospective consecutive case series of patients with neurotrophic keratopathy associated with unilateral total limbal stem cell deficiency caused by severe ocular surface burns. Ocul Surf. 2025;38:195-202. doi: 10.1016/j.jtos.2025.07.002. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40716640.