Amniotic Membrane Transplantation in the Management of Corneal Ulceration Following Infectious Keratitis.

PURPOSE: To report on the outcomes of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) for corneal ulceration following infectious keratitis.

METHOD: In this retrospective cohort study of 654 patients with culture-proven infectious keratitis from 8 hospitals in Galicia (Spain), a total of 43 eyes of 43 patients (6.6%) underwent AMT for postinfectious corneal ulceration. The indications for AMT were sterile persistent epithelial defects, severe corneal thinning or perforation.

RESULTS

AMT was successful in 62.8% of cases, with 37.2% requiring an additional surgery. Median time to healing was 40.0 days (IQR 24.2-101.7 days) and final BCVA was lower than baseline (p = 0.001). Ulcers were large (>3 mm) in 55.8% of cases. Previous herpetic keratitis and topical steroid use were more common in patients who received AMT (p < 0.001). 49 microorganisms (43 bacteria and 6 fungi) were isolated.

CONCLUSIONS

AMT is a therapeutic option for complications following infectious keratitis, which present with a sterile persistent epithelial defect, significant corneal thinning or perforation.