Amniotic membrane transplantation for symptomatic conjunctivochalasis refractory to medical treatments.

UNLABELLED

PURPOSE. To determine whether preserved human amniotic membrane can restore the large conjunctival defect created during surgical removal of conjunctivochalasis.

METHODS

Amniotic membrane transplantation was performed at two facilities in 40 consecutive patients (47 eyes) with symptomatic conjunctivochalasis refractory to conventional treatments.

RESULTS

The majority of patients were elderly (73.1 +/- 9.7 years) and women (75%). Over a follow-up period of 6.9 +/- 4.3 months, 46 (97.8%) eyes recovered smooth, quiet, and stable conjunctival surfaces. Epithelial defects healed in 16.5 +/- 7.3 days. Episodic epiphora was resolved in 24 of 30 (83.3%) eyes and improved in five other eyes. Notable relief was also noted for such symptoms as fullness or heaviness (19/19, 100%), sharp pain (6/6, 100%), redness (14/17, 88.2%), tiredness (17/20, 80.9%), itching (11/13, 78.6%), blurry or decreased vision (6/8, 75%), burning (8/13, 61.5%), foreign body sensation (8/13, 61.5%), and crust formation (1/2, 50%). Complications included focal inflammation of the host conjunctiva adjacent to the graft (six eyes), scar formation (five eyes), and suture-induced granuloma (one eye).

CONCLUSION

Amniotic membrane transplantation can be considered as an effective means for conjunctival surface reconstruction during removal of conjunctivochalasis.