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Amniotic membrane safe and viable in a number of eye conditions
 José L. Güell |
VIENNA, Austria — The amniotic membrane is a safe, viable tool to treat a number of eye conditions, but indications should not be unrealistically broadened, according to one surgeon here.
"It makes no sense to use it in complete limbal deficiencies, and it will not reconstruct the corneal stroma if the wound is too large," José L. Güell, MD, said at the EuCornea meeting preceding the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting.
Conjunctival tumor and pterygium are the most common indications for the amniotic membrane as a conjunctival graft, while as a corneal graft it is used mainly for bullous keratopathy and neurotrophic ulcers.
As a patch, the amnion is used for persistent epithelial defects, epithelial problems following PRK or intracorneal ring implantation, herpetic cases and chemical burns.
"As long as the epithelium is covered immediately, within 1 hour, amniotic membrane patching is extremely useful to stop the inflammation," Dr. Güell said.
Another use of the amniotic membrane is as a substrate for limbal stem cell culture, mostly for the treatment of severe unilateral limbal deficiency.
There are few complications.
"Failure to achieve the intended effect is perhaps the single most significant drawback," Dr. Güell said. "Plus the potential danger, however limited, of viral and bacterial transmission."