Repair of scleromalacia with Preserved Scleral and Amniotic Membrane Transplantation

Oh, Jeong Hwan; Kim, Jae Chan

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the use of preserved scleral and amniotic membrane transplantation in the treatment of scleromalacia.
METHODS
This surgical treatment were used to reconstruct scleromalacia in 8 eyes of 8 patients who had painful, non-infectious scleromalacia with impending perforation. Although a variety of graft material such as cartilage, fascia lata, and tibial periosteum on sclera has been used in the surgical treatment of scleromalacia, these tissues must be covered by conjunctiva to prevent necrosis of the grafted material. But in this study, the glycerin preserved sclera had been grafted and then covered by amniotic membrane with thick basement membrane instead of conjunctival flap.
RESULTS
Postoperatively, all the patients showed loss of ocular pain and inflammation, fast reepitheliza-tion of ocular surface, and marked improvement in visual acuity.
CONCLUSION
This surgical method seemed to be simple, fast and effective. Especially, it was more advantageous in case of large scleral defect or conjunctival scarring. Therefore, amniotic membrane transplantation with preserved scleral graft may be utilized as a new treatment modality for scleromalacia.