A complete guide about Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency
What is Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency
Where is the
The human cornea, is the anterior transparent part of the ocular globe It protects the eye from the outside environment, allowing vision at the same time. Total absence of blood vessels is essential for its transparency. Contiguous to the cornea and covering the sclera is the conjunctiva, which is rich in vessels 1
The outer layer of the cornea is surrounded by a narrow portion of tissue known as the limbus 2
- The limbus has two important functions:
- A barrier in between the cornea and the conjunctiva
- A reservoir of Limbal Stem Cells for the continuous regeneration of the cornea 2
What is Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency?
Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency (LSCD): is a rare eye condition estimated to affect about 3.3 out of 100,000 people in the European Union lead by a damage to Limbal Stem Cells. An accident or an injury causing physical or chemical burns of the cornea can result in the loss of these stem cells3
As a result, the barrier function of the limbus is compromised, and the corneal epithelium is replaced with conjunctival epithelium, cornea becomes opaque, leading to vision loss and blindness. Transparency of the cornea is in fact essential to visual acuity 4
What are the
PAIN
BURNING SENSATION
PHOTOPHOBIA
INFLAMMATION
LOSS OF CORNEAL TRANSPARENCY
EVENTUALLY BLINDNESS
The symptoms of Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency (LSCD) are pain, burning sensation, photophobia (painful sensitivity to light), inflammation, cornea neovascularization (excessive ingrowth of blood vessels into the cornea), loss of corneal transparency and eventually blindness 3
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