Preserved Corneal Lamellar Grafting Reduces Inflammation and Promotes Wound Healing in a Scleral Defect Rabbit Model.

To investigate the effect of preserved corneal lamellar grafting on inflammation and wound healing and to compare its effect with that of preserved scleral grafting in a scleral defect rabbit model. New Zealand White rabbits were assigned to a corneal lamellar grafting group (n = 5) or a scleral grafting group (n = 5). After lamellar dissection of superotemporal sclera using 6.0-mm trephine, the same sizes of preserved human corneal or scleral grafts were transplanted with 10-0 nylon interrupted sutures. The grafted areas were photodocumented at 3 to 21 days after surgery to evaluate epithelial wound healing index (%), neovascularization and presence of filaments. The existence of CD3+ T cells and CD34+ cells at the grafted areas was analyzed at 21 days. Epithelial wound healing index was significantly higher in the corneal grafting group at 9 days (P < 0.05). Scleral grafts showed copious formation of filaments adherent to the engrafted area from 9 to 14 days, whereas the corneal grafts were free of filaments. The numbers of inflammatory cells were significantly higher in the scleral grafts (P < 0.05), and CD3+ T cells and CD34+ cells were populated within inflammatory cells at graft-recipient junctions in both groups. The mean areas of the estimated perigraft and intragraft neovascularization tended to be higher in scleral grafts. Preserved corneal lamellar grafting enhances epithelial wound healing and alleviates inflammation in a scleral defect rabbit model. This work suggests that the preserved corneal graft may be considered as a favorable alternative option for repairing scleral defects.