Artikel
AlphaCor®-implantation of the first artificial corneal devices : postoperative development of four patients
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Autoren
Veröffentlicht: | 22. September 2004 |
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Gliederung
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Objective
To evaluate the efficiacy and visual restoring of the first four cases with complete of the cornea and neovascularisations in at least three quadrants.
Methods
The AlphaCor® synthetic cornea was implanted into the corneal stroma. In a first step of the operation, the surface of AlphaCor® was covered by an anterior corneal lamella and a conjunctival flap which allowed the implant to heal into the place. Before implantation of the device, a trephination with a diameter of 3.0 mm was performed into the posterior lamella. In the second stage, after three months the tissue covering AlphaCor® was removed and evaluated histologically. In one patient this surgical step was performed after four months. During a follow-up of 5 months (mean) slit lamp and ultrasound examinations, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and intraocular pressure measurements were undertaken.
Results
Five patients with corneal scarring and vascularizations, received each an implant to restore visual acuity. The operation procedure was not limited by severe complications. One patient who developed a melt of the anterior corneal lamella received for covering a donor lamella with a diameter of 9mm. The preoperative BCVA was hand movement to light perception. The exact postoperative BCVA ranged between 20/200 and 20/40. Intraocular pressure was within a normal range.
Conclusions
The first results revealed that implantation of AlphaCor® artificial corneas is a usefull device when high risk corneas must be substituted.