Artificial Cornea Improves Children's Vision

An artificial cornea offers better results for infants for whom traditional cornea transplants usually fail.

Researchers at the University of Rochester Eye Institute (Rochester, NY, USA) and a colleague at Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD, USA) conducted a study that included 17 children who underwent 23 implant procedures of a device known as the Boston Keratoprosthesis. The patients had collectively been through more than 100 previous surgical procedures--including 39 traditional cornea transplants that had failed--before the latest implant. Fifteen of the children received the Boston device, while another two received a different type of artificial implant that consequently failed. All 15 children who received the Boston implant recovered some vision, sometimes remarkably so, and none had any problem or infection with the implant. In the seven cases where the child was 4 years old or older and could explain to some degree how much he or she could see, every child could at least see fingers held at an arm's length, and some children improved to 20/30 vision. The results were presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, held in Las Vegas (NV, USA) during December 2006.

"Finally, we seem to have a method in hand to improve the vision of these children, many of whom have endured several surgeries that have failed,” said lead author James Aquavella, M.D., a University of Rochester ophthalmologist. "These are children for whom, until now, there really has not been a good option. It's either do this, or do nothing.”

The Boston keratoprosthesis consists of two plastic parts that together clamp a corneal graft; when fully assembled, it has the shape of a collar button. The device is made of a new type of plastic that allows nutrients to enter the eye more quickly than previous designs. The latest procedure also includes a large contact lens placed over the cornea to help protect it from inflammation and scarring. After the procedure patients use antibiotic eye drops each day for the rest of their lives to prevent infection.



Related Links:
University of Rochester Eye Institute
Johns Hopkins University