gms | German Medical Science

102. Jahrestagung der DOG

Deutsche Ophthalmologische Gesellschaft e. V.

23. bis 26.09.2004, Berlin

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AlphaCor®-implantation of the first artificial corneal devices : postoperative development of four patients

Meeting Abstract

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  • corresponding author S. Holak - Augenabteilung der Schlosspark-Klinik, Berlin
  • H. Bleckmann - Augenabteilung der Schlosspark-Klinik, Berlin

Evidenzbasierte Medizin - Anspruch und Wirklichkeit. 102. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft. Berlin, 23.-26.09.2004. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2004. Doc04dogDO.16.14

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/dog2004/04dog150.shtml

Published: September 22, 2004

© 2004 Holak et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en). You are free: to Share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original author and source are credited.

Outline

Text

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.