Abstract
Purpose :
Amniotic membrane grafts (AMGs) have been used to provide nutritious and anti-inflammatory scaffolding to the cornea surface to promote epithelial wound healing. While initial AMGs were first prepared with cryotherapy, there are logistical advantages of using dried AMGs that can be stored at room temperature. However, there is insufficient clinical data on the outcomes of amniotic membrane grafting between dried vs cryopreserved AMGs for specific indications. Thus, we aim to compare the resolution rate of corneal epithelial defects when treated with a dried vs cryopreserved AMGs.
Methods :
A search for CPT codes for AMG placement was performed in our institution’s electronic health record, and the corresponding charts were reviewed to isolate patients who received an AMG for a corneal epithelial defect. The type of (dried vs cryopreserved) AMG, presenting best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), indications for AMG, and anterior segment exam data were collected. Patients were separated into a “fully healed”, “partially healed”, or “no improvement” based on clinical documentation. Statistics were computed with Chi-square and Student’s t-test.
Results :
A total of 43 charts were reviewed of patients who underwent AMG placement for corneal epithelial defects. 32 patients underwent dried AMG placement, 11 underwent cryopreserved AMG placement. The indications ranged from persistent epithelial defects after corneal transplantation or superficial keratectomy to herpetic neurotrophic keratitis or ocular cicatricial pemphigoid. The mean age of the dried AMG group was 68 and the mean age of the cryopreserved group was 64. The mean presenting BCVA was higher in the dried AMG group (20/160-20/200) than in the cryopreserved AMG group (20/400-20/600). The rate of full or partial epithelial healing was 94% (30/32) for the dried AMG group and 91% (10/11) for the cryopreserved AMG group (p=0.75).
Conclusions :
The logistically simpler dried AMG and the cryopreserved AMG showed similar outcomes when used to treat corneal epithelial defects.
This abstract was presented at the 2022 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Denver, CO, May 1-4, 2022, and virtually.