Coralline hydroxyapatite keratoprosthesis in rabbits.

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.