Boston keratoprosthesis

Boston keratoprosthesis
Boston Kpro type 1 titanium posterior plate
SpecialtyOphthalmology

Boston keratoprosthesis (Boston KPro) is a collar button design keratoprosthesis or artificial cornea.[1] It is composed of a front plate with a stem, which houses the optical portion of the device, a back plate and a titanium locking c-ring.[2] It is available in type I and type II formats. The type I design is used much more frequently than the type II which is reserved for severe end stage dry eye conditions and is similar to the type I except it has a 2 mm anterior nub designed to penetrate through a tarsorrhaphy. The type I format will be discussed here as it is more commonly used.

The type I Kpro is available in single standard pseudophakic power or customized aphakic optic with an 8.5 mm diameter adult size or 7.0 mm diameter pediatric size back plate. The device is currently machined from medical grade polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) in Wilmington, Massachusetts in the United States.[3] During implantation of the device, the device is assembled with a donor corneal graft positioned between the front and back plate which is then sutured into place in a similar fashion to penetrating keratoplasty (corneal transplantation).[4]

  1. ^ Klufas MA, Starr CE (September 2009). "The Boston Keratoprosthesis: An update on recent advances". Cataract and Refractive Surgery Today. 9 (9).
  2. ^ Dohlman C, Harissi-Dagher M (2007). "The Boston Keratoprosthesis: A New Threadless Design". Digital Journal of Ophthalmology. 13 (3).
  3. ^ Khan B, Dudenhoefer EJ, Dohlman CH. Keratoprosthesis: an update. Curr Opin Ophthalmol. Aug 2001;12(4):282-287
  4. ^ Todani A, Gupta P, Colby K (January 2009). "Type I Boston keratoprosthesis with cataract extraction and intraocular lens placement for visual rehabilitation of herpes zoster ophthalmicus: the "KPro Triple"". The British Journal of Ophthalmology. 93 (1): 119. doi:10.1136/bjo.2008.146415. PMID 19098045.