Role of amniotic membrane in ocular surface disease
Reviewed by Zhihang Cheng

This comprehensive review traces the use of amniotic membrane in ophthalmology from its first documented application in ocular surface reconstruction in the 1940s through the improved processing and preservation methods that drove renewed clinical interest in the late 20th century. Derived from the innermost layer of the placenta, amniotic membrane provides a biologic scaffold of epithelium, basement membrane, and avascular stroma with anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, anti-angiogenic, and antimicrobial properties, acting as both a biological bandage and a substrate for epithelial growth. The authors detail its established role in managing ocular surface disorders such as pterygium, acute chemical burns, persistent epithelial defects, corneal ulcers, and limbal stem cell deficiency, alongside its rapidly expanding use beyond the ocular surface in orbital reconstruction, eyelid surgery, glaucoma filtration surgery, strabismus surgery, and vitreoretinal surgery.

Amniotic membrane in ophthalmology: Historical perspectives, biological properties, and clinical applications.
Ashraf M, Elhusseiny AM, Bouchard CS, et al.
PROGRESS IN RETINAL AND EYE RESEARCH
2026;113:101473.