Aims: To establish a keratoprosthesis (Kpro) surgical technique that maintains an intact superficial corneal layer. Methods: A manual microkeratome (Moria LSK-1) was used to create a 130 mm flap of approximately 10 mm diameter in the right eye of Japanese white rabbits. The stoma beneath the flap area was dissected before the removal of a 5.0 mm stromal disc. A 5.0 mm collagen I immobilised pol...

The Boston keratoprosthesis (KPro) has been used successfully in eyes with poor prognosis for conventional penetrating keratoplasty. However, postoperative changes in iris configuration after Boston KPro may occur, including iris obstruction of the Boston KPro, limiting visual potential in otherwise successful transplants. We describe our technique of argon laser iridoplasty after Boston KPro a...

Congenital hereditary endothelial dystrophy (CHED) has historically been managed with penetrating keratoplasty (PK), with moderate success, and, more recently, with Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK). The possibility of repeated graft failures with CHED, however, makes alternative surgical procedures desirable. To our knowledge, this is the first reported use of a keratoprosth...

PURPOSE To introduce a new modification for silicone optical core Keratoprosthesis. METHODS Using mixtures of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and acrylic acid polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) films were modified with two-step oxygen plasma treatment, and then type I collagen was immobilised onto this modified surfaces. Both the biocompatibility of the modified films and cell behaviour on the surface o...

PURPOSE To report the postoperative binocular function of patients with Boston type I keratoprostheses implantation for unilateral visual impairment. METHODS Seventeen patients who underwent implantation of a Boston type I keratoprosthesis and had a best-corrected visual acuity better than 20/50 in the contralateral eye before surgery were evaluated. All subjects prospectively underwent senso...

PURPOSE To investigate the efficacy of an endoscopic vitrectomy in Seoul-type keratoprosthesis (S-Kpro) exchange procedures. METHODS Nine S-Kpro-implanted rabbit eyes were enrolled in the S-Kpro exchange. Six eyes underwent an antecedent vitrectomy by an endoscopic system and then the S-Kpro exchange (endoscopy group). In the other three eyes, previously placed S-Kpros were removed, and a con...