Amniotic membrane in the management of strabismus reoperations

To reduce postoperative scar formation and to improve duction using amniotic membrane (AM) in strabismus reoperations.

A prospective study of interventional case series comprised of 14 patients with restrictive strabismus. Objective clinical findings (visual acuity, angle of deviations and degree of duction deficits) were recorded in both the pre- and post-operative periods. Strabismus surgery included the excision of adhesions and scar tissue, repositioning of extraocular muscles (according to the degree of deviations) and placement of two sheets, one between muscle and tenon and the other between muscle and sclera. Conjunctival recession with covering of the bare sclera using AM was also performed.

The mean preoperative deviation of the patients was 34.3 prism diopters (PD) and mean post-operative deviation was 4.6 PD. The mean pre-operative duction deficit of the patients was 1.7; mean post-operative duction deficit was 0.2. Postoperatively all patients improved in relation to deviation and duction. Less than 8 PD deviations with no duction deficits were achieved in 12 (86 %) of the patients.

Amniotic membrane placement around the extraocular muscle improves the duction and decreases the residual angle of deviations by inhibiting postoperative scar formation.