Surgical treatment of corneal dermoid by using intrastromal lenticule obtained from small-incision lenticule extraction.

PURPOSE: To report a novel technique to treat superficial limbal dermoid by using the corneal intrastromal lenticules obtained from SMILE and to evaluate the initial clinical outcomes of lenticule patch graft for treatment of limbal dermoid.

METHODS

In this single-center case series, lenticules were obtained from patients undergoing SMILE for the correction of myopia and the lenticule patch graft was performed in three patients with limbal dermoid. Patients were postoperatively followed at first, second weeks and first, third months after surgery. The main measured outcome parameters were included the best-corrected visual acuity, transparency of graft, tectonic integrity and restoration of optical transparency.

RESULTS

All surgeries were successful, and all patients recovered well. Obviously, improving tendency in visual acuity and astigmatism was seen at the final follow-up in all eyes. No statistically significant difference has found in the thickness of the cornea between the surgical field and the corresponding normal field. Globe integrity was achieved in all cases, and no immune rejection or perforation was detected until the last follow-up visit in all eyes treated.

CONCLUSIONS

Lenticule keratoplasty may be a safe, feasible and inexpensive surgical option for the treatment of corneal dermoid. It retains globe integrity and decreases the risk of complications such as postoperative limbal ectasia and visible corneal scarring and should be widely promoted in the areas with shortage of donor corneas.