What is a limitation of membrane placement in corneal ulcer therapy?

• A. It is a target for microbes and proteinases
• B. It provides unlimited structural support
• C. It permanently cures the ulcer
• D. It eliminates the need for antibiotics

Answer: (A)

Membrane therapy provides a temporary biological bandage that helps epithelial healing, but its main limitation is its vulnerability as biologic tissue. The amniotic membrane can be colonized by microbes, and inflammatory cells release proteinases that degrade its collagen and other matrix components. This enzymatic breakdown and potential infection shorten the membrane’s protective effect and can even worsen the ulcer if treatment isn’t continued with appropriate antimicrobials. Because of this, the membrane doesn’t offer unlimited structural support or a permanent cure, and antibiotics remain essential in management.