Low-cost and readily available tissue carriers for the Boston keratoprosthesis: a review of possibilities.

Abstract

The Boston keratoprosthesis (B-KPro), currently the most commonly used artificial cornea worldwide, can provide rapid visual rehabilitation for eyes with severe corneal opacities not suitable for standard corneal transplantation. However, the B-KPro presently needs a corneal graft as a tissue carrier. Although corneal allograft tissue is readily available in the United States and other developed countries with established eye banks, the worldwide need vastly exceeds supply. Therefore, a simple, safe, and inexpensive alternative to corneal allografts is desirable for the developing world. We are currently exploring reasonable alternative options such as corneal autografts, xenografts, noncorneal autologous tissues, and laboratory-made tissue constructs, as well as modifications to corneal allografts, such as deep-freezing, glycerol-dehydration, gamma irradiation, and cross-linking. These alternative tissue carriers for the B-KPro are discussed with special regard to safety, practicality, and cost for the developing world.

• Authors: Andrea Cruzat, Allyson Tauber, Anita Shukla, Eleftherios I Paschalis, Roberto Pineda, Claes H Dohlman
• Journal: Journal of ophthalmology (J Ophthalmol) Vol. 2013 Pg. 686587 ( 2013) ISSN: 2090-004X [Print] United States
• PMID: 24371522 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)