Development of a New Type of Artificial Cornea for Treatment of Endstage Corneal Diseases

Abstract

We report here the development of a cornea replacement implant which differs from corneal prostheses currently in use, in that it does not protrude into the inner eye nor is it made from hard materials. Our implant lies in the plane of the natural cornea and is made of flexible polymeric materials. The implant extends radially into the sclera where cellular attachment and infiltration from the surrounding tissue anchor the implant in place. The materials selected for fabrication of the prosthesis were chosen on the basis of the results of intralamellar implants in rabbit eyes. The prosthesis was evaluated by long-term implantation in cat eyes. Light microscopy and SEM were used to analyze the type and degree of cellular anchoring and ingrowth in the implant and the surrounding tissue response. The implant remained clear in the eyes for over a year without the adverse reactions seen with currently available implants.