Management of Diathermy-Induced Corneal Burn Following Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty with Multilayer Amniotic Membrane Transplantation: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Introduction: Thermal injuries associated with cosmetic eyelid surgery can significantly impair corneal integrity, potentially leading to vision loss. Conventional management, including bandage contact lens use, topical steroids, lubrication, autologous serum tears, and vitamin C, plays a crucial role in preventing long-term complications. This case report explores the potential benefits of multilayer amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) as an adjunct to standard therapy for treating diathermy-associated corneal burns. Review of the literature advocates the beneficial effects of supplementary AMT in managing thermal corneal trauma. Case description: A 75-year-old man presented with unilateral diathermy-associated corneal laceration superior to the visual axis following cosmetic blepharoplasty. Vision had deteriorated from his baseline 20/30 to 20/125 postoperatively. Intervention involved multilayer AMT alongside standard care, including topical steroids and antibiotics, oral doxycycline, and vitamin C. Postoperative course was monitored with anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) imaging. By three months, complete corneal healing and restoration of baseline visual acuity were achieved. Conclusion: This is the first documented case of multilayer AMT as an effective supplement to conventional management of diathermy-associated corneal injury. While AMT’s unique properties likely contributed to corneal healing and visual recovery, the results should be interpreted in the context of a multimodal therapeutic approach.