ASCRS 2023: Cryopreserved amniotic membrane prior to cataract surgery

Jeff Wongs, MD, discussed his study to assess the benefits of cryopreserved amniotic membrane prior to cataract surgery to restore the ocular surface and improve the accuracy of pre-op biometric readings

Video transcript

Editor’s note: Transcript lightly edited for clarity.

Jeff Wongs, MD:

Hi, my name is Jeff Wongs and I'm a corneal specialist in the Kansas City metro area. The title of our study is ocular surface optimization, with cryopreserved amniotic membrane prior to cataract surgery. The objective of our prospective, single-center, single-surgeon study is to assess the benefits of cryopreserved amniotic membrane prior to cataract surgery to restore the ocular surface and improve the accuracy of pre-op biometric readings.

In our study, patients all had visually significant cataracts with moderate to severe dry eye disease. This was defined as a SPEED score is greater than 10 and an NEI corneal staining score greater than 4 prior to cataract surgery. All of these patients were refractory to conservative measures using artificial tears, ointments, steroid drops, lifitigrast eyedrops as well as cyclosporine and eyedrops. The cryopreserved amniotic tissue that we use for the study was Prokera Slim by BioTissue. Biometry corneal topography, corneal staining of SPEED scores and best-corrected visual acuity were all measured prior to the Prokera placement. The Prokera was then placed after the cataract evaluation, and these parameters were we measured at one week after the Prokera was removed.

Two weeks after the Prokara was removed, the same measurements were obtained. IOLs were then chosen based on the IOL master that was done closest to the time of surgery. Cataract surgery was done in all patients within two to four weeks after the removal of the amniotic tissue. The study enrolled 11 eyes of eight patients. The estimated total enrollments for the study is 64 eyes. So these are preliminary results. Two weeks after amniotic membrane, ring removal, the SPEED scores, and NEI scores were all improved. At one month post surgery, all eyes had 20/20 and best-corrected. Visual acuity. Emmetropia was also achieved in 91% of patients. The mean deviation from refractive target was 0.24 diopters.

So in conclusion, this is a very exciting study that quantify the benefits of using cryopreserved amniotic tissue, specifically Prokera, in the study to obtain excellent results in cataract surgery patients with moderate to severe dry eye disease.