Researchers recently found that combining amniotic membrane transplantation with bandage contact lens placement is an effective sutureless technique to treat persistent epithelial defects (PEDs). They presented their findings at the annual ARVO conference in Vancouver.

The prospective study recruited 10 eyes of 10 patients with PEDs who were older than 18 and had failed with conventional treatment. They each underwent modified amniotic membrane transplantation with a bandage contact lens during which the amniotic membrane was placed over the bandage contact lens, oriented according to the location of the epithelial defect and left on the ocular surface for a week. Patients continued their previous topical treatment, except in the case of gels, which were discontinued..

The researchers observed five cases of neurotrophic keratitis, three of which were secondary to stem cell deficiency, one to graft-versus-host disease and one to PEDs after pterygium surgery. They achieved successful epithelialization in all eyes, with a mean epithelialization time of seven days. This new sutureless technique can be considered an effective alternative treatment for PEDs, the researchers conclude.