OUR EXPERIENCE WITH BOSTON KERATOPROSTHESIS, PATIENTS AND OUTCOMES

We aim to describe the outcomes of a retrospective case-series using Boston keratoprosthesis type 1 for the management of eyes with end stage corneal blindness at the Royal Medical Services of Jordan.

    Eleven eyes of eleven patients with different corneal diseases were included in this case-series between the periods of 2013-2016. Majority (90%) were men and the population mean age was (52.5) years. 

Patients included in the study were patients with multiple grafts failure in 25% of patients, primary Keratoprosthesis (Kpro) for severe vascularized opaque corneas in 37.5% of patients, chemical injury in 12.5% of patients and disorganized anterior segment after severe infectious keratitis in 25% of patients. Mean follow-up time was 12.75 months

We found that 25% of patients presented with preoperative visual acuity of hand motion, while 6 patients had a preoperative visual acuity of perception of light vision. Nonetheless, all patients showed postoperative improvement in their visual acuity. 37.5% of patients had a visual acuity of 0.5, 25% of patients had a visual acuity of 0.7, 12.5% of patients had a visual acuity of 0.4, 12.5% of patients had a visual acuity of 0.1 and 12.5% of patient had a visual acuity of counting fingers over three meters when measured one-month post op.

       Boston Kpro is an effective way of restoring vision in patients with end stage corneal blindness not amenable to conventional keratoplasty. Good patient selection, close follow-up and early addressing of complications is very effective in increasing the retention rate of the prosthesis and maintaining useful vision