Amniotic Membrane Transplantation in Acute Severe Ocular Chemical Injury: A Randomized Clinical Trial

To compare the outcomes of conventional medical treatment vs combined medical treatment and amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) in the management of patients with Roper-Hall grade IV ocular chemical injury.

Randomized, parallel-controlled clinical trial.

Setting: Single tertiary referral hospital.

Sixty eyes of 60 patients with Roper-Hall grade IV ocular chemical injury with a minimum follow-up of 12 months were enrolled in the study.

Patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups: Group 1 (30 eyes) received topical preservative-free lubricating gel and drops, chloramphenicol, betamethasone, homatropine, oral vitamin C, and doxycycline; Group 2 (30 eyes) received amniotic membrane transplant (AMT) on the entire ocular surface in addition to the medical treatment provided in Group 1.

The main outcome measure was time to complete corneal epithelialization. Secondary outcome measures were best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and neovascularization in the central 5 mm of the cornea.

Mean follow-up time was 20.3 ± 2.5 months (range 13-24 months). Corneal epithelial defects healed within 72.6 ± 30.4 (21-180) days in Group 1 vs 75.8 ± 29.8 (46-170) days in Group 2 (P = .610). Mean BCVA was 2.06 ± 0.67 (0.4-2.6) logMAR vs 2.06 ± 0.57 (1-2.9) logMAR in Groups 1 and 2, respectively (P = .85). Group 1 developed more central corneal neovascularization (22 eyes; 73.3%) compared to Group 2 (16 eyes; 53.3%); however, it was not statistically significant (P = .108).

In comparison to conventional medical therapy, combined amniotic membrane transplantation and medical therapy does not accelerate corneal epithelialization or affect final visual acuity in severe chemical injuries.