Amniotic membrane transplantation in severe bacterial keratitis

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Microbiology
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Severe bacterial keratitis (BK) poses a significant risk to vision.
• Standard antibacterial treatment can be associated with pain and epithelial toxicity.
• Adjuvant therapies are needed to improve outcomes and patient comfort.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of early amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) as an adjuvant therapy in severe BK.
• To assess the combination of early AMT and topical corticosteroids for pain relief and epithelial healing.
• To determine if this approach avoids iatrogenic epithelial toxicity and allows earlier steroid use.

Main Methods:

• A prospective case series of 12 patients with severe BK.
• Immediate maximal topical antibiotics followed by AMT within 48 hours.
• Topical corticosteroid treatment initiated at 72 hours post-antibiotics.

Main Results:

• Significant pain reduction observed shortly after AMT (median pain score decreased from 8 to 2).
• Corneal epithelial healing achieved between 8 and 45 days (mean 25.5 days).
• No cases of corneal perforation or neovascularization were reported.

Conclusions:

• Early AMT combined with topical corticosteroids is a safe and effective adjuvant therapy for severe BK.
• This combination provides prompt pain relief and facilitates corneal epithelial healing.
• The approach minimizes iatrogenic toxicity and supports timely corticosteroid administration.