Current concepts and techniques in keratoprosthesis.
OBJECTIVE
Diseases affecting the cornea are a major cause of blindness worldwide, second only to cataract in overall importance, with an estimated 10 to 15 million affected people. Although keratoplasty is by far the most successful transplantation surgery, the outcomes in high-risk adult patients, including those with ocular surface diseases and multiple graft rejections, and in pediatric patients with congenital corneal opacities are disappointing.


BACKGROUND
Regrettably, no significant clinical developments have been achieved in the field of corneal transplantation since the introduction of steroids for graft rejection. Furthermore, obtaining donor corneal tissues and eye banking, particularly in the developing countries where corneal blindness is most prevalent, are problematic. Although the postoperative complications may be severe and limit the use of currently available devices, keratoprosthesis--artificial corneal implantation--has a role in the management of corneal blindness in carefully selected patients with complex ocular diseases who are at high risk for graft failure.


CONCLUSIONS
This article reviews the recent ophthalmic literature published on the current concepts and techniques of keratoprosthesis surgery.
The Ocular Surface Diseases and Dry Eye Clinic, Wilmer Eye Institute, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287-9238, USA.
Ozge
O
Ilhan-Sarac
Esen Karamursel
EK
Akpek
D001187:Artificial Organs; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000639:trends*; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation