OP-7 Mitomycin intravascular chemoembolisation (MICE) – treatment for corneal neovascularisation
Year: 2025
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: Background Corneal neovascularisation (NV) is a challenging condition that can often be refractory to standard treatments, leading to lipid deposition, causing opacification, scarring, irregular astigmatism and decreased visual acuity. The aetiology of corneal vascularisation includes: 1) Infection; fungal, bacterial, viral (HSV, VZV), acanthamoeba; 2) Chemical injury with stem cell failure; 3) Corneal graft rejection; 4) Inflammatory; PUK, atopy, SJS, MMP; 5) Trauma. The efficacy of intravascular chemoembolisation with mitomycin C is well documented, particularly in hepatocellular carcinoma. This led to the hypothesis that a similar technique could be applied to corneal NV. It was first described in 2021 by Oauna et al, who reported on three patients with successful outcomes and Riaz et al in 2024 describing a fourth case with successful treatment prior to penetrating keratoplasty. Using their methodology with some modifications we started in March 2023 and in the preliminary results are the summary of the first 13 cases.Results Moorfields (13 cases).Regression (partial and full not distinguished). 77% (10 cases) at 1-3 months, 1 no regression (5 months), 1 lost to FU, 85% (1 further case had regressed by 3-6 months).Conclusion Mitomycin intravascular chemoembolisation (MICE) is the most effective treatment to date for established corneal vessels demonstrating sustained regression and improvement in BCVA over time. MICE is generally well-tolerated, with no cases of infection and a very low incidence of significant adverse events. MICE is an exciting new technique that opens up the possibility of treating cases that are currently untreatable.
Institution: Moorfields Eye Hospital
Language: English
Subfield: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
OpenAlex ID: W4412406653