Effects of Amniotic Membrane Transplantation in Ocular Burns: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

<i>Background: </i>Ocular burns is a serious eye injury with a high rate of blindness, efforts should be made to eliminate the serious complications, prevent from lifelong disability, and improve emergency interventions and treatment.<i> Objective: </i>To evaluate the effectiveness of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) in ocular burns. <i>Methods:</i> The following electronic databases were searched: PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. With the keyword “amniotic membrane” and “ocular burn”. No limitation of year, language, gender, age, nationality, etc. Animal trials, patients with other ocular surface diseases, and amniotic membrane transplantation combined with other surgeries were excluded. We evaluated the corneal epithelium healing time (CEHT), tear break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer test (ST), corneal neovascularization, the formation of symblepharon, and lid abnormalities after conventional treatment (CT) and AMT. The differences were tested by referring to the Cochrane Handbook. Pooled estimates were determined with RevMan software, version 5.3. <i>Results:</i> 5 studies with 310 eyes of 282 participants suffering from ocular burns were included. There was no significant difference between CT and AMT among the following outcomes: CEHT, TBUT, ST, formation of symblepharon, and lid abnormalities, except the extent of corneal neovascularization, which was less in patients treated with AMT (RR 0.81; 95% CI 0.68, 0.96; I² = 40%, p = 0.02). <i>Conclusions:</i> Compared to CT, AMT does not show better advantages in promoting epithelial healing, improving tear film status, and preventing complications such as symblepharon formation and eyelid abnormalities except reducing corneal neovascularization.