Patient care at the stem cell laboratory involves a team which includes medical and non-medical faculty, surgeons and research fellows. Together, we aid in routine corneal transplantation and ocular surface reconstruction. Appointments for the above have to be taken as part of the regular system for consultation. The department is actively involved in taking basic research in to translational mode.

Cornea is the transparent front part of the eye covered by corneal epithelium. Self renewal of the corneal epithelium is governed by corneal stem cells which are located in the limbus. Damage to the limbal stem cell population results in limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) which leads to blindness. Treatment for LSCD cases are as follows:

a) Ex vivo Limbal Stem Cell Transplantation (LSCT) – Unilateral LSCD.
b) Cultivated Oral Mucosa Epithelial cell Transplantation (COMET) – Bilateral LSCD.

At Stem cell Lab we are involved in collection, processing & distribution of human amniotic membrane. The processed amniotic membranes are sent to surgeons for ocular surface reconstruction.