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First clinical experience with an "artificial” hydrophylic acrylic endothelial lamellar implant in patients with end stage bullous keratopathy

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First Author: G.Auffarth GERMANY

Co Author(s):    O. Daphna   M. Koch   J. Weindler              

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) has become the most frequent procedure in corneal surgery. Unfortunately availability of human tissue is still a problem. Therefore artificial DMEK lamella would be an interesting alternative

Setting:

International Vision Correction Research Centre (IVCRC), Dept. of Ophthalmology, University Eye Clinic Heidelberg

Methods:

We present two patients with a new hydrophilic acrylic artificial lamella (EndoArt®, EyeYon Medical, Israel). The implant has a diameter of 6 mm, it is implanted and applied with an air gas mixture and similar to a normal DEMK surgical approach

Results:

Two patients were operated. Patient 1 with multiple surgeries, including cataract and vitreoretinal surgery with corneal decompensation. Status after DMEK and multiple re-bubbeling procedures. Preoperative corneal thickness was 780 µm, after 2 months the cornea thickness stabilized between 450 and 500 µm. Patient 2 with Fuchs´ cornea dystrophy and cornea decompensation after phaco and IOL. After DMEK including multiple re-bubbelings the cornea presents still bullous keratopathy. Implant detached after 25 days was repositioned, since than in place. After 3 months cornea thickness is around 500 µm, the cornea is completely cleared in the center, visual acuity improved by 2 lines.

Conclusions:

Implantation of an artificial endothelial layer made from hydrophilic acrylic material resulted in first clearance of corneal opacity and normalization of corneal thickness. Adhesiveness and long term results still need to be evaluated in multi center trials. But first experience are very promising

Financial Disclosure:

... receives consulting fees, retainer, or contract payments from a competing company, ... research is funded, fully or partially, by a competing company