What each one is
Amniotic membrane is a thin sheet of donated human tissue. Used on the eye, it has anti-inflammatory and anti-scarring effects and supports healing of the surface. It’s used in acute conditions such as chemical burns and Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and in chronic ones such as persistent epithelial defects (spots on the cornea that won’t heal) and dry eye.[1]
It can be applied in different ways. In surgery, it can be stitched or glued over the eye’s surface. Without stitches, it can be mounted in a ring that sits on the eye like a large contact lens, or held under a bandage contact lens, which allows treatment in the office.[4][8] The 2025 international TFOS DEWS III report lists amniotic membrane among advanced options for severe or treatment-resistant dry eye.[7]
A scleral lens is a large rigid lens that rests on the white of the eye and vaults over the cornea, holding a reservoir of saline against it. It doesn’t add anything biological. It protects the cornea from drying and from the eyelids, and it can improve vision on a damaged or irregular surface. It’s worn daily, for as long as it helps.
Side by side
| Amniotic membrane[2][4] | Scleral lens[12] | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Donated human tissue placed on the eye | A custom rigid lens filled with saline |
| How it helps | Biological effects that calm inflammation and support healing | Keeps the cornea under fluid and shielded from the eyelids |
| How long | A course of treatment, typically days to weeks | Worn daily, long term |
| How it’s applied | Surgery (stitched or glued) or in the office (ring or under a soft lens) | Inserted and removed by you every day after fitting |
| Vision while in place | Can be blurred, depending on the product[6] | Often improved |
| Main uses | Acute injury and inflammation, wounds that won’t heal | Chronic dryness, exposure, irregular or scarred corneas |
| Main risks | Pain, a displaced membrane or lost ring, sterile inflammation, rarely perforation | Handling difficulty, fogging, infection risk shared with all contact lenses |
| Evidence | Mostly observational studies | Mostly case series from specialty clinics |
What the research on amniotic membrane shows
- Healing slow wounds. A 2025 systematic review of 14 studies of stitch-free membrane for corneal surfaces that were slow to heal found complete healing in 64.4% of patients, taking from 3 to 43 days. Adverse events were uncommon: pain in 2.9%, a displaced membrane or lost ring in 1.7%, sterile infiltrates in 1.8%, and corneal perforation in 0.6%.[2]
- Dry eye. A multi-center retrospective study of 89 eyes with moderate to severe dry eye treated with a ring-held frozen membrane for 2 to 7 days found improved dry eye severity scores at one week, one month and three months.[3] Several of the authors were employed by or received fees from the product’s manufacturer, and there was no comparison group.
- Acute Stevens-Johnson syndrome. A 2026 systematic review of 54 studies found that membrane treatment in the acute phase, ideally within 2 weeks of symptoms starting, was followed by vision of 20/50 or better in most patients and low rates of long-term eye complications. Membrane applied in the chronic phase gave some symptom relief.[5] Another review concluded that ring-held membranes don’t cover the whole eye surface in acute Stevens-Johnson syndrome and should be used only alongside fuller coverage.[4]
- Deep wounds. A review comparing bandage lenses and amniotic membrane found membrane more effective for deep ulcers and nerve-related (neurotrophic) disease.[8]
- Vision during treatment. A lab study measured how much different membrane products blurred a test image and found wide differences, with thicker membranes generally blurring more.[6]
What the research on scleral lenses shows
- Chronic ocular surface disease. In a study of 49 people with severe ocular surface disease, mostly Stevens-Johnson syndrome (71% of eyes), 53% of eyes gained two or more lines of vision, and 8 of 15 eyes with active epithelial defects healed. 92% of patients reported better quality of life.[9]
- Defects that won’t heal. With supervised overnight wear and an antibiotic in the lens, defects healed in 17 of 20 eyes.[11]
- Long term. In a five-year follow-up of one scleral device, 64% of people treated for ocular surface disease were still wearing it.[13]
How they fit together
In practice, these treatments are often used in sequence. In an early series of scleral lens treatment for non-healing defects, one eye that didn’t heal with the lens went on to heal after multiple amniotic membrane grafts.[10] In Stevens-Johnson syndrome, membrane treatment is aimed mainly at the acute phase, while scleral lenses are used for the long-term surface problems that can follow; Stevens-Johnson syndrome was the most common reason for fitting in the scleral lens series above.[5][9] See our page on Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
Questions to ask your eye doctor
- Is this a problem that needs healing now, ongoing protection, or both?
- Would amniotic membrane be applied in the office or in surgery? How long would it stay on?
- How much will I be able to see while it’s in?
- After the surface heals, would a scleral lens help keep it healthy?
- If I already wear a scleral lens, should I stop while I’m being treated?
See also scleral lenses vs bandage soft lenses, and our pages on persistent epithelial defects and severe dry eye.
Common questions
Where does amniotic membrane come from?
It's donated human tissue, processed for medical use. It's prepared and preserved in different ways, which is why there are several products, and the method can affect how it performs.
Can I see while an amniotic membrane ring is in?
It depends on the product. A lab study found that membrane products differ widely in how much they blur, with thicker ones generally blurring more. Ask your eye doctor what to expect with the product they use.
Can I go back to my scleral lens after amniotic membrane treatment?
Often, once the surface has healed and your eye doctor clears you. Ask both your corneal doctor and your fitter, as the lens fit may need checking if the shape or surface of the eye has changed.
Which is better for dry eye?
They're used differently. A ring-held membrane is a short course of treatment that may improve the surface for weeks to months. A scleral lens is worn every day for ongoing protection. International dry eye guidance places amniotic membrane among advanced options for severe or treatment-resistant cases.