AIM: To study the effect of amniotic membrane(AM)suspension on corneal neovascularization(CNV)and ultrastructure in corneal alkali burn, and to explore the best concentration of AM for the clinical treatment.

METHODS: Forty eyes from 40 Sprague-Dawley male rats were used. After alkali injuries at central corneal using 1mol/L NaOH,the control group(Group A)received topical PBS four times a day. The rest groups(Group B, C, D)received topical AM suspension with different concentration(240, 400, 560μg/mL). Using slit lamp biomicroscopy, CNV were evaluated and scored. Tissue ultrastructure changes of cornea were analyzed by corneal confocal microscope.

RESULTS:The area of CNV were statistically different at each time point between group C and group A, B(all P<0.05). CNV were reduced as AM concentrations increased, while there were no significant differences between group C and group D. Inflammatory cells in corneal were reduced in group AM-treated groups.

CONCLUSION: AM suspension leads to significant reduce in CNV with increasing AM concentrations. However, when the concentration reached 400μg/mL, the effects on restraining CNV cannot be enhanced by concentration. This effect may be elicited in part through the inhibiting of inflammatory cells.