Summary

A 9-year-old boy presented with unilateral, total limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) complicated by the presence of a large fibro-vascular ocular surface mass lesion secondary to accidental lime injury. The pathological tissue covering the cornea was excised and simple limbal epithelial transplantation (SLET) was performed using autologous limbal tissue from the fellow eye. Histopathology of the excised ocular surface tissue revealed exuberant granulation tissue interspersed with retained calcium particles. At 6 weeks postoperatively, a focal recurrence of LSCD with symblepharon and forniceal shortening was noted superiorly. This was successfully managed by performing conjunctival autografting along with supplemental SLET. The unaided vision had improved from light perception at presentation to 20/40 at 6 months postoperatively. The fornices were deep and the corneal surface was avascular, epithelised and stable. This case demonstrates the efficacy of SLET in a child with severe ocular burns, highlighting the role of supplementary procedures customised to treat focal recurrences of LSCD.