Tarsorrhaphy with Sutureless Amnion Transplantation: Practical Management of Ocular Surface Pathologies

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to evaluate the technique of tarsorrhaphy combined with sutureless amniotic membrane transplantation in the treatment of resistant ocular surface pathologies.
METHODS: In this study, the post-operative results of patients who underwent tarsorrhaphy combined with sutureless amniotic membrane between May 2016 and July 2021 were evaluated. In this technique, we have placed the amniotic membrane on the ocular surface, and then simple tarsorrhaphy has been performed. We used this technique in our six patients during COVID-19 pandemic period at the bedside. The outcomes of corneal epithelial healing, visual acuity, pain score, patient tolerance, and adverse events were evaluated.
RESULTS: Fourteen patients (eight females and six males) were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 65.7 years (range 9–96 years). The mean follow-up period was 9 months (range 6–12 months). In all cases, epithelial defect healed completely and it was seen that this new technique facilitated resolution of pain and inflammation and promoted epithelialization in our 14 cases with resistant ocular surface pathologies. Post-operative pain score was significantly lower than pre-operative pain score (p<0.05).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that tarsorrhaphy with sutureless amniotic membrane accelerates the ocular surface healing process and increases the efficiency of amniotic membrane. This method has an important advantage that it can be performed at bedside. Patients and ophthalmologists need such an innovative treatment which is effortless, effective, and practical especially for the pandemic period.