Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency

Loss or severe damage of the corneal epithelium (the clear, outer surface of the eye) can cause vision loss. Donor tissue for direct corneal or limbal epithelial transplantation is limited, and allogeneic grafts carry a rejection risk. Researchers are developing ways to turn a patient’s own stem cells into corneal epithelial cells for transplantation. This review summarizes what works so far with human stem cells — especially mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) and pluripotent stem cells (ESCs