Clinical Ophthalmology (Sep 2023)
Association of Treatment Duration and Clinical Outcomes in Dry Eye Treatment with Sutureless Cryopreserved Amniotic Membrane
Abstract
Marguerite McDonald,1 Susan B Janik,2 Frank W Bowden,3 Amit Chokshi,4 Michael A Singer,5 Sean Tighe,6,7 Olivia G Mead,6 Seema Nanda,8 Mujtaba A Qazi,9 Damon Dierker,10 Adam T Shupe,11 Brittany J McMurren12 1Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island, Lynbrook, NY, USA; 2Solinsky Eye Care, Kensington, CT, USA; 3Bowden Eye & Associates, Jacksonville, FL, USA; 4Florida Eye Specialists, Jacksonville, FL, USA; 5Medical Center Ophthalmology Associates, San Antonio, TX, USA; 6BioTissue Holdings, Inc, Miami, FL, USA; 7Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA; 8Nanda Dry Eye & Vision Institute, Houston, TX, USA; 9Pepose Vision Institute, Chesterfield, MO, USA; 10Eye Surgeons of Indiana, Indianapolis, IN, USA; 11Royo Eye Care, Marysville, CA, USA; 12Werner Optometry, San Diego, CA, USACorrespondence: Sean Tighe, 7300 Corporate Center Drive, Suite 700, Miami, FL, 33126, USA, Email [email protected]: While sutureless, cryopreserved amniotic membrane (cAM) has been shown to significantly improve signs and symptoms of dry eye disease (DED), no studies have assessed the association of cAM treatment duration to the differential response in clinical outcomes.Methods: A multi-center, retrospective study was conducted on patients with moderate-to-severe DED who were treated with self-retained cAM (Prokera® Slim) for 2 to 7 days. The primary outcome measure was DEWS severity score assessed at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months. Secondary outcome measures included ocular discomfort, visual symptoms, corneal staining, and visual acuity.Results: A total of 89 eyes (77 patients) with moderate-to-severe DED (DEWS severity 3.24 ± 0.56) received treatment with self-retained cAM for 2 days (n = 10), 3 days (n = 15), 4 days (n = 12), 5 days (n = 19), 6 days (n = 6), or 7 days (n = 27). DEWS scores significantly improved at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months for all treatment duration groups, with no significant difference observed between groups at any timepoint. In addition to an improvement in DEWS severity scores, those receiving cAM treatment for 2 days demonstrated a significant improvement in corneal staining, visual symptoms, and ocular discomfort at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months.Conclusion: This retrospective study suggests that a single placement of self-retained cAM for 2 days can significantly improve signs and symptoms of DED with a lasting benefit observed for up to 3 months.Keywords: amniotic membrane, cryopreserved, dry eye, ocular surface, Prokera