Journal Article

Tectonic keratoplasty using decellularized stromal lenticules in corneal tissue defects: preliminary results

Iureva, T.N., Nikiforov, S.B., Lozovskaya, E.A., Dolbilkin, A.A.

2025

Overview

Purpose. To develop a method for surgical treatment of corneal tissue defects using a complex of corneal lenticules and evaluate its effectiveness in an experiment using laboratory animals by conducting clinical and instrumental studies in dynamics. Material and methods. 20 experimental animals, mature rabbits of the Soviet Chinchilla breed were included in this study. A corneal tissue defect with a diameter of 4.5 mm and a depth of 150–200 microns was formed. The animals were divided into 2 groups: group 1 — keratoplasty of a complex of human lenticules obtained as a result of refractive surgery and previously subjected to removal of cellular material was performed; group 2, the therapeutic keratoplasty was performed with the Alloplant material. Observation period was up to 2 months, the eye condition of the experimental animals was assessed on days 7, 30 and 60. Results. After implantation of the lenticular complex, clinically and according to OCT data, in all cases, there was a complete adaptation of the lenticules in the bed of the tissue defect, including in the case of complete perforation of the cornea with a diameter of 3 mm. By one month, graft epithelialization was achieved, superficial vascularization was observed, and the lenticular complex partially retained its transparency. In 4 out of 20 cases, antibioticresistant microflora developed on the ocular surface, which corresponded to the clinic of infectious keratitis in 1 case, stopped by medication. In experimental animals from group II, the defect was epithelized for up to 1 month, corneal opacity with superficial vascularization was observed in 3 cases, thinning of the stroma in the area of tissue defect modeling persisted despite compensatory epithelial hyperplasia, the Alloplant material was rejected in 8 out of 10 cases within 7 days after surgery. Conclusion. Our proposed method of surgical treatment of corneal tissue defects using a complex of corneal lenticules demonstrated its effectiveness and safety in an experimental study on laboratory animals. Key words: keratoplasty, corneal lenticule, rabbit, experiment