Pediatric Ophthalmology and Amniotic Membrane Placement: Considerations for Young Patients

Should you consider amniotic membrane placement for your child’s eye treatment? Recently this procedure has gained popularity due to its healing ability and infection prevention. But is it the best treatment option for you? Learn about amniotic membrane placement for young patients in this article. Visit our clinic or check our website at https://www.ophthalmologybrooklyn.com to see all the services that can help you manage your eye condition.

 

FAQs

Here are some of the important considerations you should know about amniotic membrane treatment in young patients. It includes:

  1. What are the benefits of amniotic membrane placement?

Ans. Here are the major benefits patients experience after amniotic membrane treatment:

  • Reduced inflammation: This treatment can alleviate the inflammation that often occurs with eye conditions by offering immediate relief.
  • Enhanced healing: The amniotic membrane has healing properties that promote faster healing and more effective recovery. Additionally, it reduces the risk of scarring and vision impairment.
  • Pain relief: Many patients also experience significant pain relief after the amniotic membrane bandage is applied.
  • Protection: The amniotic membrane lens acts as a natural bandage to protect the eye from irritants and further damage during the healing process.
  1. What is the science behind amniotic membrane placement?

Ans. This treatment is not an ordinary eye treatment because it uses a biologically active, therapeutic device designed to heal the eye’s damaged surface with a special component: the amniotic membrane. This membrane has natural therapeutic factors that promote cellular repair and regeneration which create an optimal environment for the eye’s surface to heal.

When this is applied to the eye, it acts as a protective barrier while delivering healing components directly to the damaged ocular surfaces of the cornea. This makes this treatment effective for treating eye conditions like dry eye syndrome, keratitis (inflammation of the cornea), and various forms of corneal damage, whether it occurs from injury, disease, or surgical procedures.

  1. What to expect from the amniotic membrane placement procedure?

Ans. For this procedure, you don’t need to follow any special instructions. Just make sure that after the procedure, you should have someone who can take you back home because after treatment your vision may be blurry for a few days.

During the procedure, the eye specialist will insert the amniotic membrane in their office, hospital, or surgical setting. The procedure is fairly simple. Your eye specialist asks you to sit in the eye examination chair with your head against the backrest. Your doctor may tilt the chair back to comfortably perform the procedure. Your eye specialist will rinse your amniotic membrane lens with saline before putting it in the eye. They pour some topical anesthesia or numbing drops into your eye to numb your eye and reduce discomfort.

Now, the eye specialist will insert a device up under the upper eyelid, pull the lower lid out, and push the lower ring under the lower eyelid. Then, eye specialists insert rings of the lens which can be thicker and may cause discomfort. If the lens is very uncomfortable, you should tell the medical professional to partially close the eyelid with medical tape. After insertion, the eye specialist may use sutures or fibrin glue to keep the lens in place.

The lens starts working in the eye in 3 to 5 days. Your healthcare provider may tell you when it needs to take it out. Depending on your condition, you may be asked to come either daily or in about a week’s time for a check-up to see how much your vision recovers.

  1. What are the warning signs when you should call the healthcare provider?

Ans. In case you experience any of the following signs after amniotic membrane treatment, you should call your healthcare provider:

  • Swelling
  • Redness
  • Discharge
  1. What allergies make amniotic membrane placement difficult?

Ans. If you’re allergic to ciprofloxacin, amphotericin B, glycerol, DMEM, or any other substance that is used in this treatment, then you should not go for this placement option.

  1. What are the things you should avoid after the amniotic membrane treatment?

Ans. Here are certain things you should avoid when you have the lenses in your eyes, including:

  • Don’t rub your eyes.
  • Keep your eyes closed when you take a shower.
  • Avoid swimming or any other activity that leads to soaking your eyes in water.
  1. What are the outcomes you can expect from amniotic membrane treatment?

Ans. Your outcomes will depend on the type and severity of your eye condition. Your eye practitioner will tell you about the outcomes you should expect before your treatment.

A 2013 study shows the success rates of this treatment for various eye conditions, which include:

  • 44% improvement in patients with corneal ulcers from infection.
  • 80% improvement in patients with chemical injury.

Researchers also mention that this treatment is well-tolerated and easy for participants to use.

Amniotic membrane placement can be a good option for anyone who suffers from eye conditions such as dry eye syndrome, keratitis (inflammation of the cornea), and various forms of corneal damage, whether it occurs from injury, disease, or surgical procedures, regardless of their age. However, the outcomes can be different depending on the type and severity of the eye condition. Your doctor will guide you properly on what outcome you should expect after the procedure.

 

Do you need help to decide whether amniotic membrane placement is for you or not? Visit our ophthalmology clinic in Brownsville to get a professional diagnosis to confirm what treatment option is best for you. Call us or visit us to book your appointment or for inquiries!!!

At Doral Health and Wellness Ophthalmology Center, our eye doctors can help you recover from all types of eye conditions and diseases. To schedule an appointment, please call us at 1-347-384-5690 or visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11212. You can also visit our website at https://www.ophthalmologybrooklyn.com.