Iatrogenic Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency

Conclusions

Although little has been written about iatrogenic limbal stem cell deficiency, patients with this disorder are probably more common than the literature might suggest. It is important to recognize this disorder as a limbal deficiency, since standard medical therapies will not address its etiology. The sequelae of this condition include stromal scarring and significant loss of vision. Fortunately, phacoemulsification has replaced ECCE and ICCE as the procedure of choice for cataract extraction in many parts of the world. Because of its shorter, and often temporally placed, incision, phacoemulsification is probably less likely to lead to iatrogenic limbal stem cell deficiency. Hopefully we will be witnessing less iatrogenic limbal stem cell deficiency in the future.