Original Article

Indications and Outcomes of Amniotic Membrane Transplantation

10.4274/tjo.99810

  • Alime Güneş
  • Levent Tök
  • Özlem Tök

Received Date: 13.06.2013 Accepted Date: 20.11.2013 Turk J Ophthalmol 2014;44(2):123-126

Objectives:

To investigate the indications and outcomes of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT).

Ma­te­ri­als and Met­hods:

A total of 87 eyes who underwent amnion membrane transplantation in our clinic between February 2010 and April 2013 were included in this study. Mean follow-up period was 7.49±7.84 months (range 1-29 months).
 Amnion membrane defrosted at room temperature and washed three times with saline covered all over the cornea independent of the position and size of the lesion and was sutured to the peripheral cornea circumferentially by 10/0 monofilament suture. At the end of the operation, therapeutic contact lens was placed. All cases were evaluated with respect to duration of surface epithelial healing, visual acuity, presence of recurrence, and infection.

Re­sults:

Forty-six of the 87 patients (52.8%) were men and 41 (47.1%) were women. The mean age was 57.02±19.74 years (range 31-89 years) in men and 66.69±16.56 years (range 8-88 years) in women. The indications were: ulcers in 27 eyes, keratitis in 24 eyes, topical anesthetic abuse in 10 eyes, bullous keratopathy in 7 eyes, conjunctival mass in 7 eyes, symblepharon in 3 eyes, chemical burns in 3 eyes, pterygium in 2 eyes, endophthalmitis in 2 eyes, dellen in 1 eye, and conjunctival laceration in 1 eye. After AMT, 12 patients required second AMT, and 2 cases required third AMT. 2 eyes were eviscerated, 1 eye was exenterated. At the final follow-up visit, except for patients who underwent evisceration and exenteration, improved visual acuity was observed in 45 of the 84 eyes (53.5%). The average of healing time was between 4 and 6 weeks. No infectious, inflammatory, immunologic, or toxic/allergic reactions related to AMT was observed.

Conclusion:

Amniotic membrane transplantation is a safe and effective technique in ocular surface diseases.

Keywords: Amnion membrane transplantation, corneal ulcer, keratitis

Full Text (Turkish)