BIOCOLONIZABLE KERATOPROSTHESIS

Keratoprosthesis consists in replacing the central cornea with an opti cal system. The optic requires a support which was usually located in front of or behind the cornea. In our opinion microporous materials ca n hold the prosthesis in place and prevent melting and leakage. The pr osthesis is implanted in a single procedure. The optical core is made of clinical quality PMMA. The core is 5 mm in diameter and 2.5 mm long . To promote tissue stability, 9 mm of a new microporous fluorocarbon (200 microns thick and 80 microns pore size) is used. The material bec omes transparent and wettable after implantation in the human cornea a s confirmed by experimental investigation. The material of the flange is initially hydrophobic and maintains the depth of the anterior chamb er without leakage. We present our results concerning the 10 consecuti ve cases. The average follow-up is 11 months (range; 6 to 17 months). The surgical indication was 4 cases of corneal burns, 3 cases of pseud opemphigus, 1 trachoma, and 2 cases of corneal edema. Visual acuity wa s 20/60 (range: 20/400 to 20/30). Anatomic failures occurred in 2 case s in the first two months. We observed one traumatic dislocation of th e optic system and one extrusion in the first week after error of mani pulation of the polymer. The 5 mm optical diameter of the keratoprosth esis allows a visual field of about 120-degrees.