Background/aim To describe the clinical outcome of allogenic simple limbal epithelial transplantation (alloSLET) utilising tissue from cadaveric donor eyes after failed re-epithelialisation of the corneal surface.

Methods Medical records of 14 eyes from 14 patients treated for persistent corneal epithelial defects with alloSLET were reviewed. The primary outcome measure was complete epithelialisation of the corneal surface. Secondary outcome measures were best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and postoperative side effects due to surgery or medical therapy.

Results Of the 14 eyes, 7 received alloSLET only and 7 alloSLET together with penetrating keratoplasty (PK). Thirteen (92.9%) of 14 eyes had an epithelialised corneal surface 3 and 6 months after surgery and 10 (71.4%) of 14 eyes displayed an epithelialised corneal surface 12 months after surgery. In both subgroups, alloSLET only and alloSLET with PK, respectively, 5 (71.4%) of 7 eyes had a stable corneal epithelium 12 months after surgery, respectively. Postoperatively, BCVA improved markedly in the whole patient collective. However, the increase was not significant when looking at the two individual subgroups. One patient lost his bandage contact lens several times within the first postoperative month and had a partial detachment of the amniotic membrane. The ocular surface of this patient failed to epithelialise. In three patients, limbal donor pieces translocated to the centre of the cornea, which possibly prolonged the improvement of BCVA.

Conclusion AlloSLET appears to be an effective treatment option in eyes with non-healing corneal epithelial defects when autologous limbal tissue is not available.