LAUSR

ABSTRACT Introduction: Corneal limbal stem cell deficiency is a multifaceted, sight-threatening disease process that can be challenging to diagnose and treat. Areas covered: This review discusses normal corneal limbal stem cell health, causes and diagnosis of limbal stem cell deficiency, and the medical and surgical management of limbal stem cell deficiency. Expert opinion: Recently established consensus guidelines for the diagnosis and management of limbal stem cell deficiency will help improve the diagnosis, management, and collaborative study design regarding this disease. When medical management fails, a variety of autologous and allogenic limbal stem cell transplant techniques may be tried. However, these treatments potentially have high morbidity and may be short-lived. Newer strategies of ex vivo cell culture and keratoprosthesis implants may help improve visual outcomes in patients faced with bilateral limbal stem cell deficiency.