To Study the Correlation of Limbal Ischemia and Size of Epithelial Defect in Chemical Injury

Gauher Jahan, Dr. Alka Gupta, Dr. Jaishree Dwivedi, Dr. Lokesh Kumar Singh

Abstract: Chemical injury to the eye can irreversibly damage the limbal stem cells leading to corneal vascularization and scarring. Once blinding stem cell injury occurs these eyes require complex reconstructive procedures. Accurate assessment of limbal ischemia is difficult not only because limbal ischemia may be superficial and not correlate with the amount of the surviving limbal stem cells but also because apparently healthy limbus may slough off during subsequent post injury period. Although the clinical assessment is the gold standard in defining limbal ischemia, the reliability of clinical assessment remains questionable. This study correlates the limbal ischemia and size of epithelial defect in chemical injury.

Keywords: Cornea, limbal ischemia, epithelial defect, correlation, chemical injury