Treatment outcomes in the DRy Eye Amniotic Membrane (DREAM) study

• Published in: Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) Vol. 12; pp. 677 - 681
• Main Authors: McDonald, Marguerite B, Sheha, Hosam, Tighe, Sean, Janik, Susan B, Bowden, Frank W, Chokshi, Amit R, Singer, Michael A, Nanda, Seema, Qazi, Mujtaba A, Dierker, Damon, Shupe, Adam T, McMurren, Brittany J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Zealand Dove Medical Press Limited 01.01.2018; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Dove Medical Press
• Subjects: Amniotic membrane; Apoptosis; Computer aided manufacturing; Contact lenses; Cyclosporins; Dry eye; Epidemiology; Eye diseases; Eyes & eyesight; Family medical history; Growth factors; Inflammation; Keratitis; Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; Ocular Surface; Ophthalmic agents; Ophthalmology; Original Research; Patient outcomes; Patients; Therapeutics; Workshops (Educational programs); United States > US; severity; DEWS; dry eye; amniotic membrane; ocular surface
• ISSN: 1177-5467; 1177-5483; 1177-5483
• DOI: 10.2147/OPTH.S162203

To evaluate the efficacy of cryopreserved amniotic membrane (CAM) in reducing signs and symptoms of dry eye disease (DED) in a large patient population. A retrospective chart review at 10 clinical sites was done of patients with refractory DED who received CAM and completed at least 3 months of follow-up. Data collected were demographics; medical history including previous and current ocular treatment, diagnosis, clinical presentations, comorbidity, duration and frequency of treatment with CAM; and concomitant medications. The primary outcome was the change in dry eye workshop (DEWS) score after treatment. A total of 97 eyes of 84 patients exhibited severe dry eye despite maximal medical treatments including topical artificial tears, cyclosporine-A, serum, antibiotics, and steroids. Patients manifested with superficial punctate keratitis (86%), filamentary keratitis (13%), exposure keratitis (19%), neurotrophic keratitis (2%), and corneal epithelial defect (7%). After CAM treatment for 5.4±2.8 days, 74 (88%) patients demonstrated an improved ocular surface along with a notable reduction of the severity as the overall DEWS score was significantly reduced from 3.25±0.5 at baseline to 1.44±0.6 at 1 week, 1.45±0.6 at 1 month, and 1.47±0.6 at 3 months ( <0.001). Ten eyes (10%) required repeated treatment to complete healing. Apart from discomfort during CAM placement, there were no adverse events. Placement of CAM is promising to enhance the recovery of ocular surface health and reduce signs and symptoms in patients with moderate-to-severe DED.