Early Experience With The First Three Keraklear® Non-Penetrating Artificial Cornea Implantations In Saudi Arabia
Published 2026 - 44th Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: POREF195 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/994k-xe25
Authors: Dr Omar Alabbasi* 1
1Anterior Segment,King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital,Riyadh,Saudi Arabia
Purpose
To report outcomes and complications from the first three KeraKlear® artificial cornea implantations performed in Saudi Arabia, describing the impact of adjunctive anti-fibrotic therapy and combined refractive procedures.
Setting
Retrospective descriptive case series performed at a tertiary eye care referral center in Saudi Arabia, reporting the first three KeraKlear® non-penetrating artificial cornea implantations under routine clinical surgical conditions.
Methods
Retrospective case series of three patients undergoing KeraKlear implantation. Underlying diagnoses were post-PRK deep stromal scarring (Case 1), corneal macular dystrophy (Case 2), and advanced keratoconus (Case 3). Variations in intraoperative technique, adjunctive medical therapy (MMC, topical losartan), and staged ICL implantation were evaluated.
Results
Case 1 developed dense interface haze requiring PKP. Case 2 received intraoperative MMC and postoperative topical losartan, preventing haze but developing late stromal melting at one year. Case 3 required secondary ICL implantation to correct postoperative refractive surprise but subsequently developed peripheral stromal melting requiring lamellar keratoplasty.
Conclusions
KeraKlear implantation can provide visual rehabilitation but remains limited by complications including interface haze and stromal melting.