Traditionally, amnion transplantation requires sutures or glue and is therefore dependent on a surgical setting. Studies have shown that transplantation is most successful at promoting wound healing in patients that have moderate, rather than severe burns, most likely linked with limbal stem cell survival. These patients have been shown to have the best re-epithelisation rate.
Advances in amnion technologies means there are now ways in which amnion can be applied to the ocular surface without the need for sutures. This may be through the application of amnion using a bespoke contact lens (such as OmniLenz® from www.nu-vision.co.uk) or amnion placed around two rings (such as PROKERA® from www.biotissue.com). Alternatively, a larger piece of amnion can be used to cover burns to the ocular or entire mucosal surface, which is held in place with a symblepharon ring or IV tube.
