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Coralline hydroxyapatite keratoprosthesis in rabbits
C R León1, J I Barraquer, J I Barraquer
1Barraquer Institute of America, Bogota, Colombia.
Background:
The ideal keratoprosthesis will have a curvature similar to that of the recipient cornea and allow the tissue to grow into the supporting material. We developed a support for a keratoprosthesis made of porous hydroxyapatite, which is highly biocompatible, biointegrable, non-biodegradable, and colonizable.
Methods:
We implanted the keratoprosthesis unilaterally in the right eyes of 12 New Zealand rabbits, intralamellarly and between a homologous episclerokeratoplasty (with and without conjunctival flap) for 12 months. Pathology studies and technetium-99 bone scans were performed.
Results:
We found good vascularization, no signs of infection or extrusion, no epithelial downgrowth, and no adverse tissue reaction.
Conclusion:
A clinical trial of this keratoprosthesis is warranted.