IMPLANTATION OF A SYNTHETIC CORNEA - DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND BIOLOGICAL RESPONSE

Our goal was to evaluate 3 different designs of synthetic corneas in v ivo. All devices had a transparent hydrogel center molded to a porous peripheral skirt. Over 30 devices were implanted into rabbits and foll owed for up to 6 months. The devices were preseeded with rabbit stroma l fibroblasts, which enhanced the rate of fibroplasia. The anterior su rface of the hydrogel was modified using argon rf plasma treatments. C linical examinations were performed, and histological analyses were co nducted on tissue throughout the time course. Our optimal model ranged from 4.5 to 6 mm and had an extended porous skirt increasing the surf ace area for fibroplasia and ultimate anchorage of the device. Fibropl asia occurred in this model, and collagen was detected by 28 days. The anterior chamber was normal with no detectable leakage of aqueous hum or. Glycosaminoglycans were detected and followed the time course outl ined previously when porous material itself was inserted into the stro ma. We present the first demonstration that rabbit limbal epithelial c ells can migrate onto the synthetic cornea in vivo.