The Role of Amniotic Membrane Transplantation in Ocular Chemical Burns

The study is on patients with grade II-IV acute ocular chemical burns (Roper - Hall classification) in the first 2 weeks of injury.

After topical anesthesia, all patients initially will receive first aid therapy; which included irrigation with normal saline to normalize ocular surface PH and removal of early particulate maeuil and debris. After complete examination and obtaining informed consent, the patients will be randomized using a treatment assignment list to either AMT with conventional medical therapy (group A) or medical treatment only (group B). In the patients with bilateral injuries the eyes will be randomized separately. AMT will be performed within 24h of presentation. amniotic membrane will remain in place for 7-14 days. The patients will be examined at days 1, 3, 7, 10, 14, 21, 28 and then biweekly until 3 months and monthly until (1 year in every visit, visual acuity (by sneillen charts), reduction of pain (subjectively) size of corneal epithelial defect (by fluorseein satiny extent of corneal vascularization and opacity, and symblepharon formation will be assessed. Digital photographs at each visit will be obtained.