AMNIOTIC STEM CELLS
WHAT IS IT?
Amniotic stem cells are a mixture of cells obtained from the amniotic fluid and amniotic membrane. They are mostly composed of collagen types IV and VII. The cells can develop into many tissues such as skin, cartilage, cardiac tissue, nerves, muscle, and bone.
Those cells have been used for quite a time to contribute to the healing process in medicine. Eye care professionals started using them a decade ago. It has shown incredible results to heal the cornea on some patients because the cells’ composition is very close to the cornea and conjunctiva compositions. They allow cellular growth, are anti-inflammatory and promote a healthy environment for the eye’s wounds to heal.
WHEN TO USE THE AMNIOTIC STEM CELLS?
These cells have shown great results to heal various types of ocular surface diseases. It can heal severe dry eyes with superficial punctate keratitis, neurotrophic ulcers such as those associated with diabetes or viruses like herpes, and chemical burns to the eyes.
The cells have successfully healed eye corneal conditions when no other medicine worked. As a result, we could think that the use of these cells is widespread but only 1% of optometrists in the USA reported using them.
APPLICATION
The procedure is pretty simple and can be done by your optometrist. The patients seat in the exam chair and look down. The optometrist inserts the amniotic cells on the cornea. Once the application is done, the patients should be seen often until the cornea is healed. The amniotic stem cell ring holder should be removed once the cells dissolve.