Lip Gland Transplantation for Severe Dry Eye

Tears are secreted by the lacrimal and paralacrimal glands. In patients with dry eye, the tear film is destabilized due to a decrease in the quantity or quality of the tears secreted, resulting in a change in the composition of the tear film. The causes of dry eye are complex, and different treatments are used clinically depending on the type and degree, including non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic treatments as well as surgical treatments. Some severe dry eyes have almost no tear production at all and are very difficult to treat. Usually only gland transplantation can be used in the end. The lip gland transplantation in surgical treatment, which is an emerging surgical method in recent years, has gained favor among ophthalmologists due to its high safety and good therapeutic effect. At the same time, the saliva secreted by the lip gland is close to the composition of tears, so the doctor came up with a way to remove a small piece of the lip gland under the tongue and transplanted it to the eye, which then secretes saliva in the eye area to lubricate the eye after it has become viable. Not only does it not affect the appearance of the eye, but also, the lacrimal gland will grow back, so it will not harm any organs.