Dr. PRATIK GERA

Dr. NIRUPAMA KASTURI, DR. GEETA BEHERA

Abstract

In this video, we describe the sterile preparation, preservation and uses of human amniotic membrane (AM) in the management of ocular surface diseases. Informed consent is obtained from a patient undergoing elective caesarian section and the donor is screened to exclude risk of infections. The AM is seperated from chorion and washed free of blood clots. With the epithelial surface up, amniotic membrane is spread uniformly without folds or tears on individually sterilized 0.22 μm nitrocellulose membranes of the required sizes. The prepared filter membrane with the adherent amniotic membrane is placed in the freshly prepared Dulbecco’s medium using ependorf vials and stored at -80°C. The AM can be used for surgical procedures like symblepharon release, pterygium or dermoid excision, perforated ulcers, non-healing epithelial defects, etc. The presence of several growth factors and anti-inflammatory proteins in the AM promotes epithelialization with reduction of fibrosis during healing.