Vision Restoration with a Collagen Crosslinked Boston Keratoprosthesis Unit

Abstract

The Boston Keratoprosthesis is the most widely used keratoprosthesis worldwide and is implanted in the eyes of patients who are not candidates for a traditional corneal transplant. Unfortunately, the most common cause of keratoprosthesis failure is due to keratolysis (corneal melts), which can result in devastating sight-threatening complications and /or loss of the eye. Within the keratoprosthesis unit, corneal melts typically develop in the corneal graft that serves as a carrier for the optic. We have developed a method to reduce the incidence or potentially eliminate corneal melts by strengthening the keratoprosthesis carrier tissue by collagen-crosslinking the cornea graft ex vivo using vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and ultraviolet light. The overall objective of this study is to prevent sight-threatening keratoprosthesis corneal melts and identify an improved treatment for patients who are not candidates for traditional corneal transplants.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2016
Accession Number
AD1034717

Entities

People

  • Joseph B Ciolino

Organizations

  • Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Biomedical Research
  • California
  • Collagen
  • Contracts
  • Data Analysis
  • Department Of Defense
  • Electronic Mail
  • Health Services
  • Medical Personnel
  • Personnel Management
  • Physicians
  • Professional Development
  • Teamwork
  • Tissue Banks
  • Tissues
  • Transplants
  • Universities

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

  • Neurotrauma and Rehabilitation Medicine.
  • Polymer Science and Engineering.

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology