Stein and Doheny Eye Institute UCLA researchers have developed a methodology to soften cartilage to make it suitable to implant in the upper eyelid during reconstruction, thereby circumventing eye irritation associated with implantation of untreated cartilage.
BACKGROUND:
The eyelid protects the eye physically, and aids in lubrication for proper eye function. Eyelid defects can be congenital or may be the result of physical trauma or infection. Dysfunction of the eyelid can pose serious concerns for vision or eye health and is therefore deemed as an essential surgical intervention. Restoration of the upper eyelid is much more complicated than the lower eyelid and requires consideration on the reconstruction approach dependent on the extent of the defect. While skin grafts and local flaps can be used for minor defects, major defects involving the full thickness of the eyelid require structural support, through eyelid sharing or free tarsus transfer procedures. These procedures carry risks of donor site morbidity and, for large defects, may not provide sufficient tissue for eyelid coverage.While autograft or donor cartilage has been implanted in the upper eyelid, the use of cartilage is limited by its stiffness, and severe irritation, corneal abrasion and permanent scarring and loss of vision may result from rubbing of the cartilage on the eye surface. Therefore, an unmet need exists to develop a methodology to harvest and prepare cartilage for upper eyelid reconstruction that will possess rigid structural qualities without being abrasive in nature.
INNOVATION:
Dr. Justin Karlin and colleagues in the Department of Ophthalmology at UCLA are using a novel treatment process to aid the reconstruction of the cartilage tissue in the upper eyelid by softening cartilage derived from the ear. Using this technique, the researchers extract a small tissue sample from an ear of the patient or a cadaver, then use a specialized treatment to break down and soften cartilage tissue. The softened cartilage can be used to structurally repair the upper eyelid without being abrasive to the eye. This procedure overcomes the major prevalence of severe eye irritation and corneal damage that is common to eyelid restoration, posing a viable pathway to reduce the timeline needed for restoration to be completed.
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS:
• Reconstructive surgery
• Cosmetic surgery
ADVANTAGES:
• Specific target proteins have been identified
• Allografted tissue, lower probability of rejection
DEVELOPMENT-TO-DATE: The novel cartilage softening methodology is currently being tested in clinical models.
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Nicole Hilbert 1, Jürgen Schiller, Jürgen Arnhold, Klaus Arnold