Purpose: To evaluate a keratoprosthesis, implanted by penetrating keratoplasty, in rabbits.
Methods: We implanted our keratoprosthesis (optics and flange portions of polymethylmethacrylate and a polyurethane skirt with micropores) into 14 eyes of 14 rabbits. In four eyes, we evaluated histologically the junction between the keratoprosthesis and host cornea. Long-term keratoprosthesis survival was evaluated in ten eyes by slit-lamp biomicroscopy.
Results: The histological study showed good approximation of the keratoprosthesis to the host cornea in the junction area, with overlying superficial corneal stroma on the skirt, keratocyte and collagen fiber ingrowth into the micropores, and partial migration of epithelial cells onto the skirt. However, in the long-term survival study, eight out of ten eyes developed acute suture-related inflammation, considered to be from bacterial infection, requiring enucleation 30 +/- 18 weeks after implantation. The remaining two eyes have survived for 70 and 76 weeks.
Conclusions: Our keratoprosthesis was well tolerated in the short term. However, further modifications are necessary to avoid corneal infection.