New Developments in Matrices for Ocular Surface Reconstruction

Many ocular surface disorders such as ocular cicatricial pemphigoid, Stevens-Johnson syndrome and chemical/ thermal burns can lead to severe ocular surface damage and scarring. The surgical approach to reconstruct the corneal and conjunctival surface involves the excision of the scar tissue and the application of a tissue substitute. The ideal substitute should consist of a stable, thin and elastic matrix that is well tolerated and that should ideally carry a suitable layer of epithelium. Amniotic membrane meets many of the criteria of an ideal ocular surface substitute and is most frequently used for ocular surface reconstruction to date. However the growing field of tissue engineering offers promising new strategies and this article reviews new developments in matrices for ocular epithelial cell expansion for clinical applications.