[Long-term outcomes of Boston keratoprosthesis]

To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of am implanted Boston keratoprosthesis Type I (Boston KPro).

Six eyes of 6 patients who had experienced repeated graft failure underwent Boston KPro implantation and were followed up for over one year. The mean age of the patients was 62.7 years. There were 3 eyes with glaucoma and 1 eye with fungal keratitis preoperatively. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), complications, and postoperative treatment were evaluated.

Mean follow-up duration was 33.9 months. Preoperative BCVA of hand motion to 0.02 improved to counting fingers at 30 cm to 1.0 at 1 month postoperatively. At the last follow-up, it remained stable at counting fingers at 10 cm to 1.2. There were no intraoperative complications. Postoperative complications included 4 eyes with retroprosthetic membrane formation, one eye with elevated intraocular pressure, bacterial conjunctivitis, recurrent fungal keratitis, posterior capsular opacification, cystoids macular edema, vitreous opacity and epiretinal membranes that were all treated. No keratoprosthesis extrusion, donor cornea necrosis or progressive loss of visual field was observed.

With continuous and appropriate postoperative management, use of the Boston KPro can produce long-term positive outcomes.