Amniotic membrane welded to contact lens by 1470-nm diode laser: a novel method for sutureless amniotic membrane transplantation.

AIM To avoid the side effects of the suture usage by welding amniotic membrane (AM) to contact lens (CL) with laser. METHODS AM was taken from pregnant women and cleaned from blood clots with sterile phosphate-buffered physiological saline solution which included antibiotics. Stromal side of the AM was spread inside of the CL and it was welded to CL by 1470 nm diode laser. 600 µm diameter fiber tip of the laser was contacted with the epithelial side of the AM from 4 separate points. After welding excess amniotic membrane around the CL was cut with a scalpel. RESULTS Stromal side of the AM was spread inside of the CL and then with laser fiber, different power levels and exposure times were applied on the epithelium of AM and 340 mW for seven seconds was found optimal. CL and AM attached with the spot welding effect in 4 points by touching fiber tip. CL-AM welded complex did not separated from each other while holding AM that extend beyond the CL with the help of two forceps. CONCLUSION As a conclusion, it was aimed in this study to achieve the success of the conventional amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT)with the easiness of applying a CL and to avoid risks and side effects of corneal or conjunctival suturing. The results showed that the application of the CL-AM complex will be as easy as the application of a CL and lasts shortly.