AIM: To observe the efficacy of bioengineered cornea in the lamellar keratoplasty treatment of infectious keratitis, and to evaluate the clinical value and significance.

METHODS: Totally 35 eyes in 35 patients with infectious keratitis requiring surgical treatment in our hospital were divided into three groups: the observation group(n=15)received lamellar keratoplasty with bioengineered cornea; the control group 1(n=10)received lamellar keratoplasty with conserved human cornea; the control group 2(n=10)received autogenous conjunctival flap covering for corneal ulcer. The vision, infection control and corneal transparency were observed lasting for 3-20mo.

RESULTS: In the observation group, corneal infection was controlled in 15 eyes after operation and except for 1 eye with cornea opacity during follow-up, the other 14 eyes remained basically transparent. In the control group 1, 9 corneal grafts were transparent, except for 1 eye of viral keratitis experienced corneal opacity because of virus recurrence. In the control group 2, corneal ulcer was scar recoveried in 9 eyes, except for 1 eye of aggravated fungal corneal ulcer infection with later removing of eye content.

CONCLUSION: Bioengineered cornea is a novel alternative material of human cornea, which plays a significant role in resolving the contradiction between the increasing keratopathy and donor cornea shortage.