When practices compare amniotic membrane options, the real difference is not just tissue. It is storage, preparation, product format, insertion workflow, and how much friction the product adds to patient care.
SurSight is the simpler adoption path for practices that want an ophthalmic amniotic membrane without cryopreserved storage, ring wear, or surgical-graft style handling steps.
| Feature | Surgenex SurSight | BioTissue PROKERA | BioTissue AmnioGraft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preservation Method | Dehydrated, terminally sterilized | Cryopreserved | Cryopreserved |
| Storage Requirements | Ready for use — no thawing or temperature-controlled handling needed | Shipped in temperature-controlled container; stored in on-site refrigerator or freezer | Stored from −80 °C to 4 °C; can be kept in ultra-low freezer, standard freezer, or refrigerator |
| Product Format | Sheet-based (single layer of amnion); smooth and clear for ophthalmic applications | Ring-based device (symbiotic ring holds membrane in position on the ocular surface) | Cryopreserved amniotic membrane graft attached to carrier paper |
| Insertion / Prep Steps | Place dehydrated sheet on the ocular surface | Rinse with sterile saline to remove storage media; position ring on the eye using slit-lamp guidance; may involve eyelid manipulation | Remove from carrier paper; determine stromal side orientation; ready for transplantation without rehydration |
| Patient Wear | Sheet-style membrane — no rigid ring on the eye | BioTissue insert notes patients may experience temporary foreign body sensation upon insertion | Intended for ocular surface reconstructive procedures — surgical graft application |
| Office Workflow Fit | Shelf-stable dehydrated product — no cold-chain logistics, no inventory rotation concerns from temperature storage | Requires refrigerator/freezer space, temperature monitoring, and careful inventory rotation | Requires cold-chain storage infrastructure; graft-handling workflow oriented toward surgical settings |
| Surgical Workflow Fit | Office-friendly membrane — not positioned as a surgical graft | Office-based ring insertion procedure — not positioned as a surgical graft | Designed for ocular surface reconstructive procedures with graft-style placement |
| Best Practice Fit | Practices wanting the simplest dehydrated membrane workflow with ophthalmic-specific design and distributor support | Practices that prefer the established cryopreserved ring-based corneal bandage platform | Practices with reconstructive surgical workflow needs and existing cold-storage infrastructure |
Both PROKERA and AmnioGraft are cryopreserved, which changes how the product is stocked, prepared, and handled in the office. PROKERA requires refrigerator or freezer storage and a saline rinse before use. AmnioGraft requires cold storage from −80 °C to 4 °C and carrier-paper removal with stromal side orientation before transplantation. SurSight’s dehydrated format avoids these steps entirely.
These three products represent three different formats. PROKERA uses a symbiotic ring that holds the membrane on the eye — BioTissue’s insert notes patients may experience temporary foreign body sensation upon insertion. AmnioGraft is a cryopreserved graft designed for ocular surface reconstruction. SurSight is a dehydrated sheet-style membrane that avoids both the rigid ring and the surgical graft workflow.
AmnioGraft is positioned for ocular surface reconstructive procedures, which adds a layer of procedural complexity that many general ophthalmology and optometry practices may not need for routine ocular surface management. SurSight and PROKERA are both office-oriented, but SurSight’s dehydrated format removes the cold-chain and rinse steps that come with PROKERA’s cryopreserved workflow.
For practices trying to lower adoption friction, SurSight presents the clearest entry point. SurSight is easier to explain to staff because the product story is simpler: dehydrated, ready for use, smooth and clear, single-layer, ophthalmic-specific sizing. Practices that use amniotic membrane periodically rather than daily often find the shelf-stable approach makes better logistical and financial sense than managing cryopreserved inventory.
Dehydrated, terminally sterilized, and ready for use. A single layer of amnion in a smooth, clear ophthalmic-specific presentation. Available in multiple ophthalmic sizes with no cold-chain logistics, no thawing, and no preparation needed before use. SurSight is the simplest workflow story on the page. Distributor support through Carolina Optics.
A highly visible and established cryopreserved amniotic membrane option with a long clinical track record. The symbiotic ring format ensures secure membrane positioning on the ocular surface. PROKERA is a cryopreserved ring-based option with a more involved patient-wear and insertion experience. Practices already built around the BioTissue workflow may prefer it.
A cryopreserved amniotic membrane graft designed for ocular surface reconstructive procedures. AmnioGraft comes with cold-storage and graft-handling considerations that are different from a dehydrated office-friendly membrane. For practices with reconstructive surgical needs and existing cold-storage infrastructure, AmnioGraft remains a credible option in the category.
Carolina Optics is an independent distributor, not a single-manufacturer rep. Our recommendation is based on practice fit, not quota.
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Carolina Optics is an independent distributor and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the competitor brands referenced on this page. Product names and trademarks belong to their respective owners. PROKERA and AmnioGraft claims on this page are sourced from BioTissue’s publicly available product pages and insert documentation.