Medically reviewed by Dr. Bijan Cohenmehr, OD Last reviewed
Amniotic Membrane Treatment for Dry Eye in Los Angeles
For scratches, non-healing spots and severe dry eye.
Some dry eye patients don’t just feel “dry” — they feel sharp, stabbing pain, like a needle in the eye, or a scratch that never fully goes away. That is where amniotic membrane therapy comes in: think of it as a supercharged healing bandage for the eye.
- What it is
- An ultra-thin natural healing tissue
- Feels like
- A thicker contact lens, a few days
- For
- Erosions, non-healing spots, severe dryness
- Coverage
- Often medical insurance
It may be right if you notice
- Stabbing pain first thing in the morning when you open your eyes
- A feeling of glass, sand, or an eyelash you can’t rinse out
- Sudden burning, tearing, or light sensitivity that comes and goes
- A “spot” on the eye that keeps getting irritated over and over
What happens
Numbing drops, then the membrane is gently placed — no shots, no operating room, no cutting. It’s held in place by a contact lens or, with Prokera, by its own clear ring; vision is blurrier for a few days, and the surface is intensely healed and protected the whole time.
Coverage
A medical treatment, billed as one.
Because this treats medical problems (severe dry eye, non-healing scratches, recurring erosions), it is often covered by medical insurance, not just vision plans. We document your condition with photos and testing, work with your insurer on prior authorization when needed, and go over expected costs before you decide.
For the right patient, amniotic membrane therapy calms that “needle in the eye” feeling and helps stubborn spots finally heal — especially combined with IPL, punctal plugs, and prescription dry eye medication.
Severe surface disease
When the surface needs more than drops.
Also consider
Next step
Pain that keeps returning deserves more.
Book an evaluation with a Los Angeles eye doctor — recurrent erosions have a treatment path.