Striving for the perfect keratoprosthesis
- Sussex Eye Hospital, Brighton BN2 5BF and Biomaterials Unit, Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET
- Sussex Eye Hospital, Brighton BN2 5BF and Biomaterials Unit, Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET
The ideal keratoprosthesis (KPro) should have all the advantages of but none of the problems associated with allografting. It should have specifiable aspheric optical variables, it should block ultraviolet radiation, and it should allow full visual field. The optical zone should be sufficiently rigid to avoid optical aberrations and astigmatism from buckling but sufficiently elastic to allow measurement of intraocular pressure by applanation.1 Full wound healing (biointegration—a form of “biocompatibility”)2 3 should take place at least at the periphery of the artificial cornea, allowing defence against intraocular infection, epithelial downgrowth, as well as eye rubbing and minor trauma. Artificial materials used should be non-toxic and not degrade in the lifetime of the patient.
It should allow host corneal epithelium to grow over its anterior surface and to adhere to it thus making a wettable and self renewing surface; therefore, proteinaceous …
