Omnigen®
Information for clinicians
What is Omnigen?
Omnigen is a dry and stable human amniotic membrane-derived matrix. Amnion can be used to improve healing in ophthalmic wounds and soft tissue-damage settings.
- Supplied in a convenient range of shapes and sizes
- Shipped and stored at room temperature
- Applied to the wound dry for in-vivo rehydration
- Ready for use at point-of-care
- Accessible in an outpatient setting by ambulatory application
NuVision use a patented and unique process called Tereo to produce Omnigen which ensures the bioactive components and healing benefits of amnion are retained.
Omnigen can be applied in a suture free or ambulatory setting, as an onlay-graft (patch) to treat superficial disease or surgically as a:
- Permanent inlay-graft (graft): supports the structure and re-growth of natural tissue; or
- Temporary onlay-graft (patch): biological dressing to protect the wound, reduce inflammation and facilitate healing
Omnigen is approved for treatment on the National Health Service (NHS) and at certain private clinics. Your healthcare professional will have information on how to access Omnigen.
Omnigen application allows for the natural benefits of amniotic membrane to be delivered to the ocular surface.
The benefits of amniotic membrane include:
- Reduces inflammation
- Promotes healing
- Reduces pain
- Provide tectonic support
- Provides pain relief
- Can remove the need for surgery
OmniLenz application of Omnigen can be used to treat conditions that affect corneal and limbus or for more serve situations that require full ocular or mucosal surface coverage. Larger pieces of Omnigen can be applied in a suture free setting.
Together, these strategies provide total ocular surface coverage options that can be applied as part of early acute and prophylactic treatment strategies.
Applications of Omnigen
Omnigen can be used as an onlay graft (patch) or inlay graft (graft).
- Patch applications are applied epithelial side down for wound healing. This approach delivers immuno-regulatory benefits, promotes epithelial healing and acts as a temporary biological bandage.
- Graft applications are applied epithelial side up, providing a basement membrane for epithelial re-growth and a scaffold for tectonic support of damaged stroma. The graft is permanent and integrates over time.
Patch and graft applications can be used in a range of circumstances, including:
| Onlay-graft (patch) indications | Inlay-graft (graft) indications |
|---|---|
| Acute and persistent epithelial defects | Corneal ulcers |
| Chemical/thermal injury | Limbal stem cell transplantation |
| Cicatrising conjunctivitis (SJS, TEN, Sjögren’s, Pemphigoid, Rosacea, GvHD) | Oculoplastics |
| Keratitis | Procedural adjunct – pterygium, glaucoma, neoplasia |
Omnigen comes in a range of pre-cut sizes for ease of use and reduced waste
The science
The amniotic membrane – amnion - is the inner, foetal-derived, avascular layer of the foetal membrane. It surrounds, protects and nurtures the foetus. Amnion produces important proteins which are responsible for normal growth and development of the foetus.
During pregnancy, amnion acts as a physical anti-inflammatory barrier between the mother and foetus, inhibiting maternal immune responses that could harm the foetus. These immunoregulatory and immune-privileged properties of amnion are believed to protect against tissue rejection and inflammation when amnion is used as a tissue transplant
These biological features give amnion regenerative properties including:
- Immunoregulation
- Anti-inflammatory
- Wound healing
- Anti-fibrotic
- Antiangiogenic
When amnion is delicately processed using the Tereo technique the components that drive these properties are preserved meaning Omnigen.
How to use Omnigen
Omnigen is pliable and easy to manipulate and cut, if necessary in its dry format
It is supplied in bespoke packaging and can be applied directly to the wound where it rehydrates from ambient and ocular moisture. The epithelial side is marked for confident application.
Omnigen comes in a range of convenient pre-cut sizes for ease of use and reduced waste.
Where appropriate, Omnigen can be applied in the outpatient setting using our bespoke contact lens OmniLenz.
How to store Omnigen
Omnigen should be stored at room temperature (2 – 25°C) and out of direct sunlight.
If you are based in the United Kingdom, please consult the Omnigen storage guide to see if you are able to store Omnigen at your centre.
