Artificial Cornea

[jayuk]

Hi Guys

Just thought Id let you guys know of some intersting info on artificial corneas

I spoke to the recipient of an Artificial Cornea (one of first) in the UK and just a few things he mentioned..

1) He had his first corneal graft in 1976 on his Left eye and then 9 months after on his Right.

2) His right cornea went through near enough 11 rejection episoders over 5 years and has since had near enough 6 re-grafts....this is the one which has been recieved the Artificial Cornea

3) His left transplanted eye has been untouched since 1976 and is crystal clear to this date and he has 20/20 vision with RGPs,,,thats really comforting to know at least....btw this was grafted using normal donor material

4) His artificial cornea has had a few issues but not as many as he thought. Initially the Cornea de-attached from his own and thus started leaking. This was put down to the material on the out side of the artificla cornea. He wasnt able to give me onfo his his level of vision in that eye but clearly from his topography maps there was practicalry no astigmatism...the makers of the cornea are since re-evaluating the material to make it better....

Interesting insite i thought anyhow....seems in the next 5-8 years we should have a few more concrete options on how to perform the graft and whether we still rely on donor material.....at least I hope so!!

[Sajeev]

Thats really interesting Jay...thanks for the insight...Was that Alpha-cor at all ?...I think the ones they are developing by Lancaster University will mimic the cornea even more than the artifical corneas out now!

All the Best...

[jayuk]

Indeed it was, but I agree the stuff being done at the Uni also seems extremely interesting and there timescales or "Road Map" for a better a word, looks appealing (5 years) if all goes to plan there.