Dermal graft. Alternative to Gunderson flap allows fitting scleral shell over sensitive cornea.

Corneal discomfort often prevents the successful wearing of a cosmetic scleral shell. Such sensitive corneas are traditionally covered with a Gunderson conjunctival flap. I describe two patients in whom preexisting severe conjunctival scarring precluded the possibility of developing a Gunderson flap. An alternative procedure in which autogenous split-thickness dermal grafts were sutured over the sensitive cornea was utilized in each patient. The dermal grafts reepithelialized with mucosa within 4 weeks, and both patients were then able to retain an ocular prosthesis without discomfort. I conclude that satisfactory corneal coverage may be obtained with a dermal graft when conjunctival scarring precludes the use of a Gunderson flap.