AIM: To investigate the clinical efficacy of anterior stromal puncture(ASP)for the corneal epithelial cells dysfunction(CED).

METHODS: Sixteen patients with CED underwent ASP in Wuhan Union Hospital from September 2015 to December 2015 were included. Uncorrected visual acuity, ocular surface disease index(OSDI), corneal fluorescence staining, corneal epithelial thickness, full corneal thickness, corneal subepithelial dendritic cell density, corneal endothelial cell density and corneal epithelial nerve density were observed and recorded at preoperative, 1mo and 3mo postoperatively, respectively.

RESULTS: Totally 16 patients compared with preoperatively, there was a significant increase in uncorrected visual acuity and corneal epithelial nerve density(P<0.05)or a significant decrease in OSDI, corneal fluorescence staining, corneal epithelial thickness, full corneal thickness and corneal subepithelial dendritic cell density(P<0.05)at 1mo postoperatively; while there was no significant difference in corneal endothelial cell density(P>0.05). And compared with 1mo postoperatively, there was a significant decrease in corneal subepithelial dendritic cell density(P<0.05)and a significant increase in corneal epithelial nerve density(P<0.05)at 3mo postoperatively, while there was no significant difference in uncorrected visual acuity, OSDI, corneal fluorescence staining, corneal epithelial thickness, full corneal thickness and corneal endothelial cell density(P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: ASP was effective for CED. Corneal confocal microscopy was essential for the evaluation of ASP efficacy, which can guide the clinical work better and establish the termination of intervention.