Amniotic Membrane Transplantation for Symptomatic Conjunctivochalasis Refractory to Medical Treatments

UNLABELLED: PURPOSE. To determine whether preserved human amniotic membrane can restore the large conjunctival defect created during surgical removal of conjunctivochalasis. METHODS: Amniotic membrane transplantation was performed at two facilities in 40 consecutive patients (47 eyes) with symptomatic conjunctivochalasis refractory to conventional treatments. RESULTS: The majority of patients were elderly (73.1 +/- 9.7 years) and women (75%). Over a follow-up period of 6.9 +/- 4.3 months, 46 (97.8%) eyes recovered smooth, quiet, and stable conjunctival surfaces. Epithelial defects healed in 16.5 +/- 7.3 days. Episodic epiphora was resolved in 24 of 30 (83.3%) eyes and improved in five other eyes. Notable relief was also noted for such symptoms as fullness or heaviness (19/19, 100%), sharp pain (6/6, 100%), redness (14/17, 88.2%), tiredness (17/20, 80.9%), itching (11/13, 78.6%), blurry or decreased vision (6/8, 75%), burning (8/13, 61.5%), foreign body sensation (8/13, 61.5%), and crust formation (1/2, 50%). Complications included focal inflammation of the host conjunctiva adjacent to the graft (six eyes), scar formation (five eyes), and suture-induced granuloma (one eye). CONCLUSION: Amniotic membrane transplantation can be considered as an effective means for conjunctival surface reconstruction during removal of conjunctivochalasis.