[Clinical application of keratoprosthesis for corneal opacity unsuitable for keratoplasty].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the results of keratoprosthesis for complicated corneal opacities unsuitable for keratoplasty.


METHODS
Fifteen keratoprosthesis were implanted in 15 patients with bilateral blindness. Preoperative visual acuity (VA) was light perception in all operated eyes. The corneal opacities were caused by severe alkali burn (6 eyes), sulfate acid injury (3 eyes), melting aluminum injury (2 eyes), explosive injury (1 eye), severe dry eye (1 eye) and multi-keratoplasty failure (2 eyes). The keratoprosthesis (MICOF) were made by Moscow eye microsurgery complex in Russia. Surgical techniques consisted of two stages; first, inserting a supporting titanium frame into the lamellar pocket and then, implanting an optical part 3 months later.


RESULTS
Follow-up time ranged from 4 to 26 months (9.5 months on average). In 14 of 15 eyes (93%), postoperative VA ranged from 0.12 to 1.0 without correction. Corrected postoperative VA was: 7 eyes (47%) with VA from 0.6 to 1.2; 5 eyes (33%) from 0.3 to 0.5 and 2 eyes (13%) from 0.15 to 0.2. The reason of the only eye without VA improvement was a pre-existing retinal detachment.


CONCLUSIONS
Keratoprosthesis improves vision for corneal opacity patients with complicated conditions such as dense neovascularization and severe ocular surface disorders.
Huang
Yi-fei
YF
Department of Ophthalmology, The General Hospital of PLA, Ophthalmic Center of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100853, China. yhqqkid@vip.sina.com
Wang
Li-qiang
LQ
Wang
Feng-xiang
FX
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003318:Corneal Opacity / Q000601:surgery*; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D014792:Visual Acuity