Amniotic membrane transplantation associated with conjunctival peritomy in the management of Mooren's ulcer: a case report.

PURPOSE: To report the association of conjunctival peritomy with amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) at the limbus with the exclusion of the central cornea in order to preserve visual function in one case of bilateral Mooren's ulcer.

METHODS: A 36-year-old man with bilateral Mooren's ulcer was unresponsive to conventional therapy. Surgical procedure was performed on his right eye, at impending risk of corneal perforation. A 20 x 20 mm piece of amniotic membrane (AM) was prepared by performing a central hole of 7.5 mm diameter with a manual trephine. A 360 degrees conjunctival peritomy was performed and the AM was placed with the epithelium side facing up and the central hole was sutured on the paracentral cornea.

RESULTS: Two weeks after surgery, while the right eye showed improvement of signs and symptoms and unchanged best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), the left eye showed a peripheral corneal perforation with prolapsed iris that required conjunctival flap. At 7 months of follow-up, the right eye showed no ocular inflammation, a reduction of the lipid-like peripheral corneal infiltrates, an increased stromal thickness, and an unchanged BCVA. The progression of corneal thinning in the left eye led the authors to perform AMT (as described) in the left eye as well. Five months after the AMT in the left eye, neither eye shows signs of disease progression, and neither requires further therapy.

CONCLUSIONS: Conjunctival peritomy associated with AMT may be an alternative surgical approach in the management of Mooren's ulcers to control the inflammation and the progression of disease.