The treatment of severe eye burns is still complicated. Since 1984 we have performed autologous nasal mucosa transplantation for the severe mucus deficiency syndromes often occurring during follow-up. Now we report on our initial experience using nasal mucosa transplantation shortly after severe burns.
Patients: Prospectively, nine patients (eight male, one female) were examined after autologous nasal mucosa grafting within 14 days after eye burns. In all patients there was an almost complete defect of limbal vascularization, large areas of necrotic conjunctiva and prolonged epithelialization problems. The patients were followed for an average of 38 months.
Results: In all patients the subjective complaints lessened and sufficient ocular wetting led to rapid reepithelialization. During the follow-up period two patients showed light symblephara. In five patients visual acuity improved to > or = 20/200.
Conclusion: Early nasal mucosa transplantation is an additional tool in the treatment of severe ocular burns.