BACKGROUND: Amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) has a long tradition in ophthalmic surgery and has become very popular recently because of newly developed methods of tissue preservation. METHODS: We selectively review the literature on recent developments, mechanisms of action, and established indications of AMT in the treatment of various diseases of the ocular surface. We searched the PubMed database for articles that appeared from 1994 to 2009 with the key words "amniotic membrane," "cornea," and/or "conjunctiva." RESULTS: Amniotic membrane (AM) can function in the eye as a basement membrane substitute or as a temporary graft. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-scarring effects and contains growth factors that promote epithelial wound healing on the surface of the eye. AMT has been found to be a good alternative for corneal and conjunctival reconstruction in many clinical situations, including acute burns, persistent epithelial defects of the cornea, and diseases that cause conjunctival scarring. Nonetheless, there have been no more than a few randomized and controlled trials of AMT to date. Other studies have shown that AM can serve as a culture substrate to expand epithelial progenitor cells for use in ocular surface reconstruction. CONCLUSION: AMT is an established technique in the treatment of various diseases of the external eye. In the last few years, AMT has brought about major advances in the reconstructive surgery of the ocular surface.
BACKGROUND: Amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) has a long tradition in ophthalmic surgery and has become very popular recently because of newly developed methods of tissue preservation. METHODS: We selectively review the literature on recent developments, mechanisms of action, and established indications of AMT in the treatment of various diseases of the ocular surface. We searched the PubMed database for articles that appeared from 1994 to 2009 with the key words "amniotic membrane," "cornea," and/or "conjunctiva." RESULTS: Amniotic membrane (AM) can function in the eye as a basement membrane substitute or as a temporary graft. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-scarring effects and contains growth factors that promote epithelial wound healing on the surface of the eye. AMT has been found to be a good alternative for corneal and conjunctival reconstruction in many clinical situations, including acute burns, persistent epithelial defects of the cornea, and diseases that cause conjunctival scarring. Nonetheless, there have been no more than a few randomized and controlled trials of AMT to date. Other studies have shown that AM can serve as a culture substrate to expand epithelial progenitor cells for use in ocular surface reconstruction. CONCLUSION: AMT is an established technique in the treatment of various diseases of the external eye. In the last few years, AMT has brought about major advances in the reconstructive surgery of the ocular surface.
Authors: Scheffer C G Tseng; Edgar M Espana; Tetsuya Kawakita; Mario A Di Pascuale; Wei Li; Hua He; Tzong-Shyne Liu; Tae-Hee Cho; Ying-Ying Gao; Lung-Kun Yeh; Chia-Yang Liu Journal: Ocul Surf Date: 2004-07 Impact factor: 5.033
Authors: Abraham Solomon; Daniel Meller; Pinnita Prabhasawat; Thomas John; Edgar M Espana; Klaus-Peter Steuhl; Scheffer C G Tseng Journal: Ophthalmology Date: 2002-04 Impact factor: 12.079
Authors: Alex J Shortt; Genevieve A Secker; Maria D Notara; G Astrid Limb; Peng T Khaw; Stephen J Tuft; Julie T Daniels Journal: Surv Ophthalmol Date: 2007 Sep-Oct Impact factor: 6.048