The AWP: Beyond “Just Dry Eye”: CAM360 vs Prokera

In this episode of EyeCode Media, host Aaron Werner convenes a dynamic discussion with Dr. Walt Whitley, Dr. Hardeep Kaur, and Roger Kennedy to explore the clinical nuances of two leading amniotic membrane therapies: Biotissue's Prokera and CAM360. The conversation centers on moving beyond the oversimplified diagnosis of 'dry eye' to recognize underlying conditions like neurotrophic keratopathy (NK), which often go undetected without proper corneal sensitivity testing. The panelists share their real-world clinical experiences, emphasizing that while Prokera remains a gold standard for severe cases due to its proven efficacy and psychological impact of discomfort, CAM360 offers a valuable, ringless alternative for milder NK, post-surgical patients, and those with intolerance to the Prokera ring. They stress the importance of patient education, setting clear treatment goals, and documenting medical necessity to support reimbursement and audit readiness. The episode also tackles common barriers to adoption—cost, fear of the unknown, and billing concerns—offering practical solutions like hands-on training, leveraging Biotissue’s integration resources, and adopting a mindset of 'do something' to advance patient care. Key takeaways include: 1) Always test corneal sensitivity in dry eye patients to uncover hidden neurotrophic keratopathy; 2) Use patient-centered goal setting (e.g., pain reduction, vision improvement) to align expectations and improve outcomes; 3) Document medical necessity thoroughly—especially failed therapies and reduced sensitivity—to justify treatment; 4) Overcome fear of new treatments by experiencing them firsthand through wet labs or practice with colleagues; 5) Leverage company resources like Pinnacle for billing and coding support. The overall tone is highly positive, encouraging innovation, clinical rigor, and patient-centered decision-making in ocular surface disease management.