Spotlight - The Future of Cryopreserved Amniotic Membrane in Oculoplastic Surgery
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Shelf-stable amniotic membrane shows short- and long-term improvements in ocular surface disease

Ophthalmology 360

Key Takeaways

  1. Most eyes showed improved corneal staining and symptoms within about 4 days of CAM placement.
  2. Improvements were maintained at approximately 16 weeks in many eyes.
  3. No serious complications were reported, with only mild irritation in a few cases.

Adjunctive use of shelf-stable, cryopreserved amniotic membrane (CAM) was associated with improvements in corneal staining and symptoms within days, with benefits maintained for several months in many patients with ocular surface disease (OSD), according to a retrospective study.

The analysis included 20 consecutive patients (29 eyes) treated using shelf-stable CAM placed with a 72-hour collagen shield or bandage contact lens, followed by partial tape tarsorrhaphy. Patients had dry eye disease (14 eyes), neurotrophic keratopathy (5 eyes), or superficial punctate keratitis (10 eyes). Outcomes assessed at approximately one week and at last follow-up (12–24 weeks) included corneal staining, symptoms, visual acuity, and corneal sensitivity.

Mean corneal staining scores improved from 2.26 ± 1.07 to 1.00 ± 0.91 (P < 0.001), with 84.6% of eyes showing improvement approximately 4 days after CAM placement. Symptomatic improvement, defined as resolution of at least 1 pre-treatment symptom, was observed in 92.3% of eyes at this early follow-up.

At longer-term follow-up, occurring at approximately 16 weeks, corneal staining scores remained improved at 1.55 ± 1.13 (P = 0.014). Trace or complete resolution of staining was observed in 25% of eyes, while 60% demonstrated improvement. Symptomatic improvement was reported in 65% of eyes at long-term follow-up.

No serious complications were reported. Two cases of irritation were associated with collagen shield use, and one case of outer eyelid irritation was attributed to adhesive tape.

Reference
Cushman S. Shelf-Stable, Cryopreserved Amniotic Membrane for the Management of Ocular Surface Disease: A Retrospective Assessment. Clin Optom (Auckl). 2025;17:409-415. doi: 10.2147/OPTO.S563708. PMID: 41459351; PMCID: PMC12739937.

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