[Amniotic-membrane and limbic stem-cell transplantation in the management of ocular burns]

Severe ocular burns are potentially blinding injuries. During the first month, ocular surface destruction is caused by a vicious circle of complications that may result in the pathological state of total limbal stem-cell deficiency. Amniotic membrane transplantation can be considered an early, if not immediate, surgical procedure to promote epithelialization and calm inflammation so that scarring-induced sequelae can be prevented in the chronic stage. However, when partial or total limbal stem-cell deficiency involves one or both eyes, corneal surface reconstruction relies on transplantation of autologous limbal stem cells, an allogenic source of limbal stem cells or corneal epithelial stem-cell transplantation. In this late stage, amniotic-membrane transplantation may improve prognosis of keratolimbal allograft and is useful in the treatment of symblepharons.