Amniotic membrane transplant with superficial keratectomy in superficial corneal degenerations: efficacy in a rural population of north India.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the applicability and efficacy of superficial keratectomy with transplantation of preserved amniotic membrane in superficial corneal degenerations in a rural population of Northern India in terms of visual improvement and surface regularization.


METHODS
Peripheral referral center in rural north India.


METHODS
This was a prospective non-comparative interventional case series where 24 eyes of 20 farmers from peripheral rural areas (M:F = 19:1) with visually significant superficial degenerative disorders (15 eyes with climatic droplet keratopathy one of which was associated with Salzmann nodular degeneration and nine eyes with band-shaped keratopathy) were subjected to amniotic membrane transplantation (single or multiple layer) combined with superficial keratectomy. Subjective and objective outcomes after surgery were evaluated and analyzed and statistical significance of the outcomes in various disorders was evaluated.


RESULTS
Eighty-eight per cent (21 eyes) had symptomatic relief from distressing preoperative symptoms while postoperative visual improvement by two or more lines was achieved in 23 eyes (96%) over a mean follow-up period of 26.8 +/- 10.2 months. The surface irregularity present preoperatively was relieved in 23 cases while postoperative decline of vision with visually significant scarring was seen in one case (4%), which was labeled as failure.


CONCLUSIONS
Amniotic membrane transplant with superficial keratectomy helped achieve subjective comfort, visual rehabilitation and clinical regularization of the corneal surface in superficial corneal degenerations during the mean followup of 26.8 +/- 10.2 months in rural setups.
Rao
Aparna
A
Glaucoma Services, RP Centre, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India. vinodini10375@yahoo.com
Sridhar
Uma
U
Gupta
A K
AK
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000650:Amnion / Q000637:transplantation*; D001684:Biological Dressings; D003317:Corneal Dystrophies, Hereditary / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology