Improved conjunctival transplantation for corneal ulcer.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the therapeutic effect of pedical conjunctival flap transposition on refractory corneal ulcer.

METHODS

The data of 56 eyes of 56 patients with refractory corneal ulcer who underwent pedical conjuctival transposition in a tertiary eye unit in China from June 2005 to June 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 36 infective corneal ulcers, 9 keratoplasty graft ulcers, 4 traumatic ulcers, and 7 chemical burn ulcers. All patients were treated with focal debridement and pedical conjuctival flap transposition.

RESULTS

Forty-seven out of 56 (83.9%) were cured after one surgery, and 5 (8.9%) had conjunctival flap retraction, among which 3 underwent the second surgery and 2 had the third surgery to completely heal. Four patients (7.2%) turned to lamellar keratoplasty because of fungal corneal ulcer relapse. Ulcer in 52 patients healed and the globe preserved. They had different levels of vision improvement.

CONCLUSION

Pedical conjunctival flap transposition is effective for refractory corneal ulcer.