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Amniotic membrane applied to corneal stroma may cause increase in corneal thickness
Am J Ophthalmol. 2011;151(5):809-822.
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Integrating multiple layers of amniotic membrane into the corneal stroma may cause an increase in corneal thickness, a study found.
"Amniotic membrane transplantation performed as a multilayer graft was effective in promoting stromal wound healing, epithelialization and ulcer closure and in reducing corneal melting, leading to the formation of a stable avascular leukoma," the authors said.
The prospective noncomparative interventional case series included 22 eyes of 22 consecutive patients who had noninfectious corneal ulcers and stromal thinning that did not respond to medical treatment.
Physicians filled the ulcer crater with multiple layers of amniotic membrane, and 20 eyes (90.9%) had a successful result after 12 months of follow-up, the study said.
Before the procedure, mean residual stromal thickness at the ulcer bed was 222 ± 70 µm, according to anterior segment optical coherence tomography.
One day postoperatively, the amniotic membrane layers had a mean thickness of 394 ± 80 µm, with a mean total corneal thickness of 623 ± 51 µm.
Although the thickness progressively decreased to 420 ± 61 µm at 6 months, it eventually stabilized, the study said.
Further study is needed to determine whether the reinforced host bed could withstand tight sutures, penetrating keratoplasty or deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty, according to the authors.