Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography (Asoct) Evaluation Of Cryo- Preserved And Vacum Dried Amniotic Membrane Used In The Management Of Persistent Corneal Epithelial Defects (Ped).
Published 2026 - 44th Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: PP20.11 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/52hh-xj74
Authors: Dr Farida Omar Elzawahry* 1 , Dr Costanzsa Rossi 2 , Dr Prity Sahay 1 , A/Prof. Mario Nubile 3 , A/Prof. Dalia Said 1 , A/Prof. Harminder Dua 1
1Ophthalmology ,Nottingham university hospitals,Nottingham ,United Kingdom, 2Ophthalmology ,Specialist ,Catanzaro,Italy, 3Ophthalmology ,University of Degli Studi G.D'Annuzio, Chieti Pescara, Italy,Pescara,Italy
Purpose
To compare the effectiveness of cryopreserved and vacuum-dried amniotic membrane transplantation in the treatment of persistent epithelial defects, and to assess corneal and membrane thickness changes during healing using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (ASOCT).
Setting
A clinical setting involving consecutive patients diagnosed with persistent epithelial defects, managed with amniotic membrane transplantation and followed using ASOCT imaging.
Methods
ASOCT scans were obtained from 29 consecutive patients with PED. Fourteen eyes underwent cryopreserved amniotic membrane transplantation (CAMT) and 15 eyes underwent Omnigen transplantation. ASOCT imaging was performed preoperatively, at 1 week, and at 3–4 weeks postoperatively. Thickness of the corneal epithelium, amniotic membrane, stromal bed, and total cornea was measured using the Heidelberg calliper. Healing was monitored by fluorescein staining and slit-lamp examination. Success was defined as complete epithelialization of the PED; unsuccessful cases were excluded from analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism 8.2.1, with a p value <0.05 considered significant.
Results
Healing of PED was achieved in 75.86% (n = 22) of eyes. Both CAMT- and Omnigen-treated eyes demonstrated a significant reduction in stromal bed thickness between initial presentation and the healed stage (p = 0.025 and p = 0.017, respectively), with no significant difference between the two membrane types. No significant differences were observed between groups in epithelial thickness, amniotic membrane thickness, or total corneal thickness.
Conclusions
Both cryopreserved amniotic membrane and Omnigen provide comparable outcomes in the healing of persistent epithelial defects. Similar thickness measurements of the epithelium, amnion, residual stroma, and total cornea suggest that both membranes are equally effective in the management of PED. ASOCT is a valuable tool for quantitatively assessing corneal healing following amniotic membrane transplantation.