title: AlphaCor artificial cornea: clinical outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to describe the long-term results of AlphaCor implantations, and to evaluate the main complications and risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of preoperative and follow-up data from 15 AlphaCor implantations. Analysis of outcomes, trends, and associations was performed and compared with data from published clinical trials and a literature review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survival rate of the device at 1, 2, and 3 years was 87%, 58%, and 42%, respectively. Postoperative visual acuity ranged from hand movement to 0.8. The most significant complications were stromal melt (nine cases), optic deposition (three eyes), and retroprosthetic membrane formation (three eyes). The most common device-unrelated complication was trauma (three patients). All complications were managed without loss of the eye.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AlphaCor provides a treatment option for patients with corneal blindness in which a donor tissue graft would not succeed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic. jirasnad@fnhk.cz
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jirásková
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rozsival
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burova
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kalfertova
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001187:Artificial Organs; D003315:Cornea; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate