Corneal Stromal Transplantation With Human-derived Acellular Dermal Matrix for Pellucid Marginal Corneal Degeneration: A Nonrandomized Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND: To investigate the transparency, biocompatibility, and safety of human-derived acellular dermal matrix for application in corneal stromal transplantation. METHODS: Twenty-four patients (24 eyes) with pellucid marginal corneal degeneration were enrolled, and intrastromal keratoplasty was performed with human-derived acellular dermal matrix. The ocular symptoms and signs as well as graft characteristics were evaluated at baseline and at 1 day, 1 week, and 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. Photography by a slit lamp, topography by Pentacam, anterior segment-optical coherence tomography, and corneal confocal microscopy were conducted at baseline and during the follow-up period. RESULTS: Postoperative discomfort was relieved during the follow-up period. No abnormal ocular signs were observed at 6 months, indicating the safety of the procedure. Desirable and improved transparency of the grafts was demonstrated, and all the grafts healed without dissolution or fall at 6 months postoperatively. Reepithelization was completed, and confocal microscopy revealed that keratocytes and nerves repopulated in all the grafts at 6 months postoperatively. The thinning of the marginal corneal stroma was eliminated following the transplantation, and the curvature and corneal regularity remained stable at 6 months compared with baseline. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated the transparency, biocompatibility, and safety of human-derived acellular dermis matrix in intrastromal keratoplasty. With further improvements, human-derived acellular dermis matrix could be applied in central lamellar keratoplasty and ultimately solve the shortage of donor grafts.