Key Takeaways
- Two AAO case reports examine cryopreserved amniotic membrane in neurotrophic keratitis and severe HSV keratitis
- In the glaucoma case, ocular surface improvement following CAM treatment allowed reliable surgical measurements and subsequent cataract and glaucoma surgery
- In the HSV case, CAM was used with antiviral and antibiotic therapy, with corneal dendrites resolving within 2 days and the cornea remaining quiet at 4 months
Two case reports being presented at the American Academy of Optometry’s annual meeting in Anaheim, California, highlight the use of BioTissue's cryopreserved amniotic membrane (CAM) in patients with challenging ocular surface conditions.
The posters, scheduled for presentation during the Sept. 30-Oct. 3 meeting, examine CAM in the management of neurotrophic keratitis (NK) associated with antiglaucoma therapy and herpetic keratitis in an immunocompromised patient. Both reports describe CAM as part of a broader treatment strategy aimed at promoting corneal healing and improving the ocular surface.
“Complex ocular surface conditions can present significant challenges for clinicians, particularly when corneal healing is compromised,” Ted Davis, president and CEO of BioTissue, said in a statement. “These case reports provide real-world examples of how cryopreserved amniotic membrane is being used as part of the treatment approach in patients with difficult-to-manage conditions.”
Amber Carissa “A.C.” Flynn, OD, will present the poster, “Preservative Toxicity to Biometric Reliability: Ocular Surface Optimization with Cryopreserved Amniotic Membrane Before Cataract and Glaucoma Surgery.”
The case involved a patient with glaucoma and stage 1 NK whose ocular surface disease interfered with obtaining reliable topography and biometry measurements before cataract surgery.
The patient was treated with BioTissue CAM360 AmnioGraft, a shelf-stable cryopreserved amniotic membrane. Following treatment, corneal staining resolved and corneal sensitivity improved, according to the case report. The improvement allowed the patient to proceed with biometry and subsequently undergo cataract extraction combined with minimally invasive glaucoma surgery.
The case underscores the importance of identifying NK and addressing ocular surface abnormalities in patients with glaucoma before obtaining surgical measurements. It also illustrates the potential role of CAM in preparing a compromised ocular surface for cataract and glaucoma procedures.
A second poster, presented by Paul Hammond, OD, examines the use of CAM in an immunocompromised patient with severe herpes simplex virus (HSV) keratitis.
Titled “Use of Antivirals and Cryopreserved Amniotic Membrane to Manage Signs and Symptoms of Herpetic Keratitis,” the case report describes a patient who developed severe HSV keratitis and reduced corneal sensitivity following a hospital stay.
Treatment included a BioTissue Prokera Slim CAM corneal bandage in conjunction with antiviral and antibiotic therapy. According to the report, the patient’s corneal dendrites resolved within 2 days. At 4 months of follow-up, the cornea remained quiet and the patient’s vision had stabilized at the preinfection baseline.
The case suggests that CAM may serve as an adjunct to antiviral therapy in selected patients with herpetic keratitis, with the goal of supporting ocular surface recovery and limiting long-term corneal damage following HSV reactivation.
The posters will be on display in the American Academy of Optometry meeting exhibit hall Friday, Oct. 2, from 1 to 3 pm.
