To evaluate the therapeutic effects of autologous eye platelet-rich plasma (E-PRP) drop in in vivo cultivated oral mucosal epithelial transplantation (In vivo-COMET) in patients with total limbal stem cell deficiency.

In this prospective interventional nonrandomized case series, one small oral mucosal epithelial block (33 mm) harvested from lower lip. This labial block was fixed to upper limbus of ocular surface covered by cryopreserved amniotic membrane. In the case of stromal opacity optical penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) was performed. All patients received E-PRP drop every three hours for two weeks after surgery. The epithelial healing, its transparency and visual acuity were evaluated after surgery.

Six eyes of six patients with total LSCD were enrolled. Complete epithelial healing occurred during two weeks after surgery in all cases. Corneal transparency was improved after 3 months. PKP was done in three cases. Epithelium was healed in these three cases after two weeks. Cornea was clear and ocular surface was stable three months after surgery. In cases with and without PKP visual acuity was improved significantly.

This study suggests that in patients with total limbal stem cell deficiency, E-PRP drop may be helpful for in vivo cultivation of oral mucosal epithelial transplantation.