Stem cell eye drops aim to heal stubborn corneal wounds

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age · Patients 18 years of age or older * Ocular Health * Chronic corneal epithelial disease with fluorescein staining score 6 by NEI grading scale or persistent corneal epithelial defect present for longer than 14 days despite standard treatment * No objective clinical evidence of significant (\> 50%) improvement/worsening of the epithelial disease in the last 14 days * Epithelial disease refractory to conventional non-surgical treatments (e.g., preservative-free artificial tears, gels or ointments; discontinuation of preserved topical drops; anti-inflammatory therapy) * If both eyes of subject meet the inclusion criteria, the eye with the higher fluorescein staining score will be enrolled to the study. * Study Procedures * Only patients who satisfy all Informed Consent requirements may be included in the study. The patient and/or his/her legal representative must read, sign and date the Informed Consent document before any study-related procedures are performed. The Informed Consent form signed by patients and/or legal representative must have been approved by the UIC IRB for the current study. Patients must have the ability and willingness to comply with study procedures. Exclusion Criteria: * Ocular Health * Any active or suspected ocular infection (bacterial, viral, fungal or protozoal). * History of any ocular surgery (including laser or refractive surgical procedures) in the study eye within the 3 months prior to study enrollment. * Treatment with Oxervate in the study eye within 12 months of enrollment. * Study Procedures * Known hypersensitivity to one of the components of the study or procedural medications (e.g., fluorescein). * Use of any investigational agent within 4 weeks of screening visit. * Participation in another clinical study at the same time as the present study. * Participants who are pregnant at the time of study enrollment.