A conjunctival graft is a surgical procedure in which a piece of healthy conjunctiva (the mucosal membrane that covers the white of the eye and lines the inner surface of the eyelid) is transplanted to a damaged or diseased area of the cornea. This procedure is typically performed in pets to treat conditions that affect the cornea, such as deep stromal ulcers, or full thickness perforations.
Conjunctival grafts are usually performed under general anaesthesia, and may be done in conjunction with other eye surgeries. The healthy tissue is typically taken from the superficial conjunctiva lining the sclera (the white part around the cornea) and is carefully lifted, rotated and sutured in place to cover the damaged area. Conjunctival grafts are only one of the possible grafting techniques used to repair corneal defects.
Other techniques include corneo-conjunctival transposition (CCT), when a portion of cornea from the same eye is used to repair the defect, corneal transplant from a donor, and use of exogenous grafting material such as sterilised porcine bladder, intestinal sub-mucosa or amniotic membrane.
Recovery from a conjunctival graft may involve medications to control infection and promote healing, as well as close monitoring by a veterinarian to ensure that the graft is successful.
The technique of choice will depend first of all on the size, depth and position of the corneal defect, but also on the health of the cornea, any underlying issues and the age of the patient, and ultimately on the surgeon’s preference.
Our first choice is normally a CCT as this offers a better chance of corneal clarity after surgery but when this is not possible conjunctival grafts or xenografts (grafts made with material coming from another animal, such as porcine bladder or amniotic membrane) are also a valid alternative.
Overall, conjunctival and corneal grafts represent a very effective way to repair a diseased, infected or injured cornea, even when this has fully perforated, and are essential in saving vision.
