ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Searching for a substitute donor corneal is a hotspot for treating fungal corneal ulcer. OBJECTIVE: To Investigate the clinical effect of bio-engineering cornea and donor cornea on treating fungal corneal ulcer. METHODS: Forty-four cases (44 eyes) of fungal corneal in General Hospital of Northern Theater Command were enrolled, and were randomized into two groups, followed by underwent lamellar keratoplasty using acellular porcine corneal matrix (bio-engineering group, n=22) and human donor cornea (donor group, n=22). The patients were followed up for 12 months. The control rate of infection, visual acuity, graft transparency, epithelizatlon time and complications were observed In both groups. The study was approved by the Ethical Committee of General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, approval No. K(2018)05. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The control rate of Infection showed no significant difference between two groups (91%, 91%, P > 0.05). (2) The visual acuity in both groups was improved with time. The visual acuity in the donor group was significantly better than that in the bio-engineering group at 12 months after surgery (P 0.05). (4) The epithelization time showed no significant difference [(6.6±2.0) days, (6.7±1.9) days, P > 0.05]. (5) There was no significant difference In the Incidence of delayed healing of corneal epithelium, rejection reaction of graft, neovascularization, or recurrence between two group (P > 0.05). The rate of graft dissolved In the bio-engineering group was significantly higher than that In the donor group (32%, 8%, P < 0.05). (6) In summary, bio-engineering cornea used for lamellar keratoplasty holds significant efficacy, high safety and good prognosis in the treatment of fungal cornea ulcer, which may as substitute when donor cornea is deficient.