Use of corneal patch graft to repair scleral or corneoscleral defects

• Main Authors: Maria Cristina Nishiwaki-Dantas, Richard L. Abbott, Paulo Elias Correa Dantas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Conselho Brasileiro de Oftalmologia
• Series: Arquivos Brasileiros de Oftalmologia
• Subjects: Corneal patch graft; Corneoscleral surgery; Perforation; Scleritis
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0004-27491995000500295&lng=en&tlng=en

SUMMARY Different types of graft materiais, such as buccal mucosal membrane, auricular cartilage, conjunctiva, fascia lata, periosteum and dermal autografts, aortic and scleral homografts and synthetic materiais have been used in order to repair or reinforce scleral or corneoscleral defects with variable results. We report patients with a minimum one year follow-up, successfully treated with corneal patch graft. In ali cases, the corneal patch graft healed well without any evidence of further melting, infection or rejection. The grafts remained intact and able to support the defect, with a favorable final cosmetic appearance. Therefore, we emphasize the importance of human donor corneal tissue as an excellent alternative graft material to reinforce or repair scleral or corneoscleral defect.