CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY OF GORE-TEX PATCH GRAFT IN CORNEOSCLERAL SURGERY

Three patients with corneal or scleral defects were treated with Gore- Tex grafting, including one case of corneal ulcer, one case of Mooren' s ulcer, and one case of necrotizing scleritis. These eyes remained in flamed after Gore-Tex grafting. The interval between grafting and remo val ranged from 2 months to 1 year. Pathologically, none of these graf ts showed evident epithelial or fibrous tissue ingrowth of the Gore-Te x graft. Fungal inhabitation was noted in one graft, and fungal endoph thalmitis developed 5 months after graft removal and penetrating kerat oplasty. Although Gore-Tex offers some advantages, it has disadvantage s when it is used without adequate conjunctival covering, including po or epithelialization, poor adhesion between graft and surrounding tiss ue, and potential infectious route.