title: Outcome of Boston Keratoprosthesis in a Developing Country-Importance of Patient Selection, Education, and Perioperative Care: The Indian Experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aim to analyze the results of Boston type 1 keratoprosthesis from the Indian subcontinent, with particular emphasis on patient education and perioperative care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective interventional case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective study of patients operated on for Boston type 1 keratoprosthesis between January 2008 and April 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 20 patients who underwent surgery, the indications included silicone oil-induced keratopathy (8 eyes; 40%), chemical injury (7 eyes; 35%), repeated graft failures (3 eyes, 15%), and 2 pediatric eyes (10%)-1 sclerocornea and 1 congenital anterior staphyloma. The mean follow-up was 21.8 months ranging from 6 to 45 months. Best corrected postoperative visual acuity was noted to be greater than 20/200 in 16 (80%) of 20 eyes. Anatomic integrity was maintained in 18 eyes (90%). Repeated corneal melt necessitated removal of the prosthesis with corneal transplant in 2 eyes. There was no infection or endophthalmitis in any of the 20 eyes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The good anatomic and functional results, with no postoperative infection in our experience with Boston keratoprosthesis over a 3-year period, are encouraging. Strict inclusion criteria and ensuring good patient compliance are important factors in determining good results with a low risk of infection in a tropical developing country.
authors.affiliation: From the Sankara Nethralaya, Medical & Vision Research Foundation, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Geetha
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iyer
authors.forename: Bhaskar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Srinivasan
authors.forename: Nidhi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Prema
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Padmanabhan