2University of Health Sciences, Kayseri City Training and Research Hospital, Eye Clinic, Kayseri
3Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Ankara DOI : 10.37844/glau.cat.2023.18.56 Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate various indications and different application techniques of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) with or without limbal grafts in patients with ocular surface disorders.
Materials and Methods: Eighty-two eyes of 80 patients who underwent fresh AMT with various ocular surface disorders over 9 years were retrospectively analyzed.
Results: Of the 80 patients, 57 were male and 23 were female. The mean age and follow-up were 45.1±17.7 years and 14.3±11.1 months, respectively. The most common surgical indication was limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) (43 eyes, 52.4%). The most common cause of LSCD was chemical/thermal injuries (58.1%). AMT combined with allograft or autograft limbal transplantation was performed in 25 eyes with total LSCD, whereas AMT alone in 18 eyes with partial LSCD. The second most common surgical indication was corneal ulceration (21 eyes, 25.6%). The most common causes were herpetic, bacterial, and peripheral ulcerative keratitis (66.7%). Other surgical indications were recurrent pterygium (8 eyes, 9.8%), large conjunctival tumors (7 eyes, 8.5%), and cystic blebs (3 eyes, 3.7%). Dura mater graft was combined with AMT in the cystic bleb surgery. Chelation was applied to 3 eyes with band keratopathy, and symblepharon resection and fornix reconstruction were performed in 8 eyes. In total, a second time AMT was performed in 13 eyes (15.8%).
Conclusion: Fresh AM performed in a wide variety of indication groups was found to be safe and effective. Fresh AMT combined with limbal grafts may increase surgical success in patients with total LSCD.
Keywords : Amniotic membrane transplantation, Limbal graft, Ocular surface diseases, Surgical techniques