[Repair of corneal defects using tissue engineering].

ABSTRACT

We propose to treat deep corneal burns by grafting a living stromal equivalent, since keratocyte death and stromal destruction are the main factors of ulceration and destruction of the eye. A technique was developed for isolation and grafting a living stromal equivalent. Twenty one patients with deep corneal defects were treated. A stable therapeutic effect was observed in 95% of cases. The advantage of the developed method is partial recovery of affected corneal transparency.