Low-Cost and Readily Available Tissue Carriers for the Boston Keratoprosthesis : A Review of Possibilities

Abstract EN

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.