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Amniotic transplant with fibrin glue stabilizes globe for later PK in cases of ALK
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STOCKHOLM, Sweden — Amniotic membrane transplant with fibrin glue decreases inflammation and promotes healing in cases of anterior lamellar keratoplasty for such diseases as corneal melt and descemetocele, according to one ophthalmologist speaking here.
Speaking to an audience at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting, Thomas John, MD, of Loyola University in Chicago, described the efficacy of anterior lamellar keratoplasty (ALK) with amniotic membrane transplant.
The study included 10 ALK procedures performed in eight eyes of seven patients. The mean age of the patients was 66 years. Diagnoses included six cases of diabetes mellitus, one patient with pellucid marginal degeneration in both eyes and three cases of failed PK, according to Dr. John.
All patients suffered from corneal melt, 86% suffered from descemetocele and 71% suffered from corneal perforation. All patients underwent ALK with amniotic transplant and fibrin glue, Dr. John said.
According to the results, all the globes were stabilized and the fibrin glue resulted in adherence of the donor disc to the corneal defect created by corneal melt in all cases.
A decrease in ocular inflammation related to amniotic transplant occurred in 71% of the eyes, and two were able to undergo PK when the eye became stable after ALK, Dr. John said.
"The purpose of this technique is not to visually rehabilitate the whole of Descemet's membrane, just to stabilize the globe ... and then at a later stage perform penetrating keratoplasty," Dr. John said.