Clinical outcomes of AMT in acute ocular chemical injury
Reviewed by Jonathan Chan

This is a retrospective study of patients from two units in Germany and UK between 1998 and 2008. The ocular chemical burns were classified by Roper-Hall and Dua classifications. A total of 72 eyes of 54 patients aged 37.3 years (SD 11.6 years) were included in the study. Seven were acid burns, 61 were alkaline and four were of unknown origin. For 37 eyes (51.4%), amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) was applied within first six days after injury. Mean follow-up time was 36.4 months. Twenty-nine eyes (40.3%) achieved a best-corrected visual acuity of LogMAR 0.2 or better at final visit. Complete 360 degrees limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) was found in 33 eyes (45.8%); partial LSCD in 21 eyes (29.2%). Twelve eyes (16.6%) required more than two AMTs and all had grade 4 or worse chemical burns. Mild subconjunctival or rapid resolution of AM in the acute phase were not considered as complications. The authors conclude that AMT is an effective adjunctive treatment in acute chemical burns to promote epithelial healing and restore ocular surface and potential vision. It was found that Dua’s grade 5 and 6 eyes had a limited prognosis as for those with Roper-Hall’s classification of grade 4.

Clinical outcomes of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) in the management of acute ocular chemical injury.
Westekemper H, Figueiredo FC, Siah WF, et al.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
2017;101:103-7.