A bandage contact lens and dried amniotic membrane to treat dry eye disease

Research published in Clinical Ophthalmology has outlined the results of a study where 35 patients with moderate to severe dry eye disease applied human dehydrated amniotic membrane to their corneas using a specialised bandage contact lens.

During a four to five day period, the patients wore the Omnilenz contact lens in combination with the Omnigen amniotic membrane. This intervention period was then repeated.

A 30-day period where the patients used no additional treatments to their existing management regime was used as a control to compare against the interventions.

The scientists found a 31 to 42% improvement in symptomatology and a decrease in ocular surface signs of mechanical stress following the intervention periods.

The authors acknowledged that while the results were “promising,” it was limited by its short-term post treatment assessment and the lack of a randomised control group.

“Further research is necessary to explore the long-term benefits of the treatment in dry eye disease including in its impact on subclinical inflammation and corneal nerves,” the researchers shared.

Omnilenz and Omnigen are both products manufactured by NuVision Biotherapies – a tissue-therapy company that is based on 15 years of translational research at the University of Nottingham.

Study co-author and professor of optometry at Aston University, James Wolffsohn, shared that the research represents a “significant stride forward” in ophthalmic advancements.

“The evolution of this technology, previously being relatively inaccessible due to storage limitations, into a straightforward, surgery-free application, marks a pivotal moment. This transformation empowers clinicians with an exciting, easily accessible treatment option for tackling this chronic and debilitating disease,” he highlighted.