The Variation In Transparency Of Amniotic Membrane Used In Ocular Surface Regeneration
- Che J Connon (che.connon{at}gmail.com),
- James Doutch (doutchjj{at}cardiff.ac.uk),
- Bo Chen (b.chen{at}reading.ac.uk),
- Andy Hopkinson (andy.hopkinson{at}nottingham.ac.uk),
- Jodhbir S Mehta (jodmehta{at}yahoo.com),
- Takahiro Nakamura (tnakamur{at}ophth.kpu-m.ac.jp),
- Shigeru Kinoshita (shigeruk{at}ophth.kpu-m.ac.jp),
- Keith M Meek (meekkm{at}cardiff.ac.uk)
- School of Pharmacy, University of Reading, United Kingdom
- School of Optometry & Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, United Kingdom
- School of Pharmacy, University of Reading, United Kingdom
- University of Nottingham, United Kingdom
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore
- Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectura, Japan
- School of Optometry & Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, United Kingdom
- Published Online First 19 March 2009
Abstract
Background/aims: Scant consideration has been given to the variation in structure of human amniotic membrane (AM) at source or to the significance such differences might have on its clinical transparency. Therefore, we applied our experience of quantifying corneal transparency to AM.
Methods: Following elective caesarean, AM from areas of the fetal sac distal and proximal to the placenta was compared to freeze-dried AM. The transmission of light through the AM samples was quantified spectrophotometrically, also measured were tissue thickness by light microscopy and refractive index by refractometry.
Results: Freeze-dried and freeze-thawed AM samples distal and proximal to the placenta differed significantly in thickness, percent transmission of visible light and refractive index. The thinnest tissue (freeze-dried AM) had the highest transmission spectra. The thickest tissue (freeze-thawed AM proximal to the placenta) had the highest refractive index. Using the direct summation of fields method to predict transparency from an equivalent thickness of corneal tissue, HAM was found to be up to 85% as transparent as human cornea.
Conclusion: When preparing AM for ocular surface reconstruction within the visual field, consideration should be given to its original location from within the fetal sac and its method of preservation, as either can influence corneal transparency.
