Artificial Corneas

[John Smith]

Came across this article in Monday's Metro.

'Artificial Eyes' hope for 10m

An Artificial cornea to save millions from blindness could be available within five years. British researchers, bolstered by a £425,000 Government grant, say they are now on track to make the breakthrough.

The replacement corneas will be made from hydrogel, similar to the material used to make soft contact lenses. Dr. Nigel Fullwood, of Lancaster University, said experts had tried for years to make an artificial cornea that was as good as a conventional transplant - but without success.

He added "Our approach is new." The cornea is the transparent outer window of the eye, which acts as a powerful lens to make sight possible. Up to 10 million people around the globe have lost their sight to corneal disease and, of these, half have no access to transplants.

So what to folks here think about that?

[Read this message on-line and you will be able to vote].

[Andrew MacLean]

I'd hear of this development. Sounds really exciting!
Andrew

[sajeev nadarajan]

I have spoken to the Doctor involved......

I believe they are being developed as it would work better that a regular corneal transplant.

Alpha corr (an artifical cornea) is already out.....and is being used as a last defence...when transplants fail to do the trick (like rejection problems)_

I believe that the new artifical cornea would more closely "mimic" the cornea......I think that was the "big story".....

[Andrew MacLean]

John, following Sajeev's post, is it possible for the KC group to bring pressure to bear on the powers that be to ensure that there is not a long delay in the introduction of this new and exciting technology? I'm mindful that INTACS surgery is spreading very slowly, even although several centres have surgeons qualified to undertake the procedure.
You are, of course, away ahead of me on this ... hence the poll?
Andrew

[John Smith]

Sorry Andrew, but I'm as much in the dark as you are. The poll was just there to gauge people's reactions in general.

This does sound a very exciting development, and it will probably take about 5 years or so to get the relevant approvals. Personally, I think Sajeev's comment about "if all else has failed" is about right at the moment. We know pretty well the long-term prognosis for a graft, but we're still not sure about this, or even things like LASIK!

[sajeev nadarajan]

Yes Guys.......Just a quick note.....Intacts from what I know is only good for mild KC....as it is really developed for myopia....and to replace laser. Also due to the fact of the clear ring which is used....there is problems were light entering the ring bounces around in the ring, which can then enter your eye in different angles....and as such cause glare problems for KCers.

Now, Ferarra Rings has been designed for KC....and it can be used for more advanced KC and for transplanted KCers as well!!!......it has a reflective back.....so that any light entering the Ring is reflected away (like a prism) from the eye ....

Ferrara Rings has been approved for use in europe....

P.S.....The first mini-ark british KCers (4 months post op).....has no problems with his vision, now......He say's he just see's slight starbursts' around streetlight's at night which do not bother him, at all!!!......and he does not have no trouble driving in the night either......he has found himself a new job (abroad).....as says' he is "buzzing"with energy and feels great!!!

[GarethB]

I work in the healthcare R&D business nad it is not always the 'powers that be' that are slow to introduce new technology, it is the regulaters such as the FDA, MHRA and MCA etc. Before these things can be released, there are all sorts of trials and as this is a foreign body being placed in the eye, the manufacturing process will be scrutinised too.

I have seen how eye drop bottles are made and it took 30 minutes to scrub up and put all the protective clothing on just to see how a plastic bottle is made before it was sent to the drug company to be filled!

Before something can become freely available, it needs to be shown to work on a number of people first, for normal drugs, this is thousands of people, I do not know for implants. The speed this could be rolled out would depend largely on the number of volunteers (a way to beet waiting lists) and then the short and long term results. My search on the net so far suggests long term data for KC is being considered to be 10 years or more and there is very little data beyond 20 years that I have found so far. (Please correct me if I am wrong).

Certainly people from the forum volunteering to take part in clinical trials will help this technology become available to all.

[Bob Somi]

The japanese have successfully transplanted cells from the cheek onto the cornea where it has grown to become corneal cells and maintain transparency after 12 months. Apparently five people are in the experiment. They want to study long term effects for at least 5 years before making a judgement.

In UK a study of transplanting conreal cells from cadaveric cornea is being studied but there is always a chance of rejection whereas the Japanese method carries virtually no risk.