Keratoprosthesis: Artificial corneas restore sight

Source: Wikimedia, Erin Silversmith

Corneal transplants have been pursued as an answer to blindness caused by problems with the clear outer layer of the eye, such as macular dystrophy. But the procedure has risk of rejection, and corneal tissue, like other transplanted tissues, is not always readily available. The solution to this has been the development of an artificial cornea.


The artificial cornea is a clear acrylic prosthesis (keratoprosthesis) implanted into the eye. A lot of work on the clinical applicability and safety of the design and procedure has been done in Boston – known as Boston Keratoprosthesis. A few other types are also commercially available for surgeons from other medical device companies. In early December 2010, one such surgery restored an Englishman’s sight. Read more about the new eye operation that restored the man's sight.