Limbal conjunctival autograft in a subacute alkaline corneal burn.

Persistent epithelial defects are a common complication after severe alkaline corneal burns. Chemical damage to the limbal area destroys the stem cells that play a key role in corneal reepithelialization. Limbal conjunctival autograft transplantation has been proposed as a treatment to replace damaged limbal stem cells and promote epithelial healing. We report a case of a persistent epithelial defect after a severe alkaline corneal burn that was successfully treated 6 weeks after the injury with limbal autograft transplantation. Impression cytology provided valuable information for locating the healthy and damaged limbal tissue involved in the transplantation. Two weeks postoperatively the epithelial defect was completely healed, stromal vascularization was regressed, and visual acuity was improved.