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Amnion is the innermost membrane of the structural layers of the placenta. It has been utilized both as tissue transplant and biological wound dressing in the treatment of cutaneous and mucosal injuries already for more than a century. It can be attached onto various tissue and wound surfaces even without sutures, if necessary. The amnion can also be utilized in the treatment of ocular diseases; and it has been shown to promote healing of the cornea in various ways. In this review we discuss the use of amnion in ophthalmology and in the treatment of ocular diseases.

Background: Trends in suicide mortality in Europe from 1950 to 2009 were studied., Material and Methods: Data on 4,777,113 suicides in addition to the data on population were extracted from the WHO Mortality Database., Results: In Europe, there was an increase in suicide mortality during the 1980s and the 1990s, followed by a decrease. The suicide mortality of Finnish men has decreased from the highest rate in the 1950s to the ninth place in the 2000s. In contrast, the suicide mortality of Finnish women is currently the second highest in Europe., Conclusions: Continuous work and research are needed to enhance suicide prevention at the regional level.

Keratitis is a rare complication associated with contact lens wear, always presenting a threat to the patient's vision. In most cases the patients seek medical care for a painful, reddened eye that is watering or produces discharge. In most cases a light-colored lesion staining with fluorescein is seen on the cornea. The most common causative organism is Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Representative culture specimens from the cornea and conjunctiva as well as from the contact lens are important in respect of directing the treatment. Even if the inflammation can in most cases be treated, keratitis always leaves a scar on the cornea and may require further surgical interventions to restore patients vision.

Fatal motor vehicle accidents (fMVAs) as well as accidents involving pedestrians or bicyclists in Uusimaa county in 2008 were reviewed. Of the fMVAs, acute disease attacks while driving caused 26.5% (9/34) of the drivers' deaths. This equalled with the number of alcohol-related fatal accidents. Heart attack was the main cause (7/9 disease attacks). Three bicyclists (3/14; 21%) died for health reasons; two for ventricular fibrillation and one for alcohol intoxication probably combined with cardiac arrhythmia. Diseases served also as background causes for fMVAs. Education of health care personnel on medical conditions and driving should be improved.

Clinical manifestations of keratoconus include reduced visual acuity, increased astigmatism, thinning of the cornea and protrusion of the cornea, as observed in the shape of the corneal surface. Spectacles are utilized in the treatment of early keratoconus, whereas hard contact lenses or intracorneal support rings are used in more advanced forms of the disease. A corneal transplant operation is applied to a far-advanced keratoconus. Photohardening of the cornea may serve as a suitable preventive treatment.