The KeraKlear (Keramed, USA) artificial cornea is a medical device employed in the treatment of corneal blindness. It is a non-perforating foldable corneal prosthesis which is implanted into a partial thickness corneal pocket made with a femtosecond laser through an opening of 3.5 mm in diameter. The recommended depth of the pocket is 300 µm. The deeper part of corneal stroma, the Descemet´s membrane and endothelium are left in place. The superior part of the cornea is cut in the central 3.5 mm region and removed. The optical part of keratoprosthesis is placed in this opening. The main function of the peripheral part is to fixate and stabilize the keratoprosthesis in the correct position. It is inserted between the superior and the deep lamellae of the corneal pocket. The femtosecond laser is recommended for corneal pocket creation. This technique has some limitations. The main disadvantages are the difficulties experienced in vacuum creation between the cornea and the suction ring of the femtosecond laser, especially in cases of corneal and conjunctival scaring or an irregular corneal surface. Laser discision of the tissue in completely white cornea may be a further problem. Unfortunately, irregular surfaces as well as a white cornea are very frequent in patients indicated for keratoprosthesis implantation.

An alternative technique for creating a corneal pocket involves the PocketMaker microkeratome (Dioptex GmbH, Austria). This equipment was originally used in the creation of a corneal pocket and the implantation of a MyoRing (Dioptex GmbH, Austria). MyoRing is an intracorneal continuous ring (ICCR) and was designed by Daxer for the treatment of myopia [1] and keratokonus [2,3]. The discision of a cornea and the creation of a pocket in this technique is performed by using a vibrating diamond blade after the previous applanation of the cornea using a plastic applanator. The depth of the corneal pocket created by a PocketMaker microkeratome is 300 µm, so we tried to use this method to create a corneal pocket for our keratoprosthesis KeraKlear implantation.

The surgical procedure starts with the creation of a pocket in the corneal stroma using the PocketMaker microkeratome. It consists of a suction ring; an applicator with a guiding mean for the handpiece; a disposable transparent applanator; a handpiece containing a motor-driven diamond blade that vibrates in the cutting plane; and a control unit. The first step of the procedure is to fixate the applicator to the eye using the suction ring. The cornea is applanated using an applanator, inserted into the applicator (Fig. 1). After inserting the handpiece into the guiding mean, the cornea is dissected into 2 lamellae with a vibrating diamond blade. The depth of the corneal pocket is 300 µm and the diameter is approximately 9.0 mm. Apart from a 3-4 mm wide incision tunnel, the pocket is closed along the entire circumference. The suction ring is removed from the eye. A plastic glide is inserted into the pocket via the incision tunnel. In the central part, the superior 300 µm of the cornea is cut over the glide, using a 3.5 mm disposable corneal punch (Biopsy punch, Kai Medical, Japan). The part of the cornea cut from the center is removed, as is the glide. KeraKlear keratoprosthesis is made of a soft and foldable material so it can be implanted using forceps into the corneal pocket through the 4 mm incision. The forceps are released after the implantation into the pocket and the prosthesis unfolds spontaneously. The central optical part fills the 3.5 mm hole in the center of the cornea and the thinner peripheral part of the prosthesis is inserted between the superficial and deep lamellae of the corneal pocket in the periphery. The position of the keratoprosthesis can be controlled or corrected using a cyclospatula. The main function of the peripheral rim is to fixate and stabilize the keratoprosthesis in the correct position (Fig. 2). This part of the prosthesis contains 12 holes and allows for fixation with a suture. We always used 4 single sutures, one in each quadrant. The incision tunnel is self-sealing and does not require suturing. A contact lens is applied at the end of the surgery. The whole surgery is fast and relatively easy. It is possible to perform this surgery under topical anesthesia.

Fig. (1). Fixation of the applicator to the eye using a suction ring and applanation of the cornea using an applanator.

Fig. (2). Anterior segment OCT scan of the implanted KeraKlear.

Fig. (3). Patient 1. (a) Cornea before surgery and (b) 6 months after surgery.

Fig. (4). Patient 3. (a) Cornea before surgery and (b) 6 months after surgery.

The KeraKlear keratoprosthesis and PocketMaker microkeratome are both CE certified and are approved for use in surgery in the European Union.

Currently, the most widely used keratoprostheses are Boston keratoprosthesis, osteoodontokeratoprosthesis and Alphacor. They are used primarily in patients with bilateral corneal blindness and in cases of high risk for penetrating keratoplasties. Despite the relatively promising results in some patients, keratoprostheses are associated with many risks, including peroperative and postoperative complications. The main postoperative complications in patients with implanted keratoprosthesis are glaucoma, a retroprosthetic membrane, chronic hypotony, dehiscence between the artificial material and the recipient´s corneal tissue, and the consequent risk of endophthalmitis [4-9]. These complications often cause deterioration of visual functions and failure of the surgery. In comparison with standard keratoprostheses, KeraKlear has a great advantage, since the surgery is non-penetrating. The artificial cornea is placed on a thin layer of the recipient´s posterior cornea. The risk of severe complications is theoretically greatly reduced. Since the retained layer of the cornea is thin, it allows a patient with implanted artificial cornea a relatively good visual acuity. The prosthesis is fixed in the correct position using a peripheral rim implanted into the corneal pocket. In our experience, when fixing the rim, 4 single sutures are sufficient to ensure the long-term stability of the implant.

An important step in the prosthesis implantation procedure is to create a corneal pocket. The recommended use of the femtosecond laser has some disadvantages, especially when creating the vacuum in cases of a scarred and irregular corneal surface, as it is problematic to cut on a clouded and vascularized cornea. One particular disadvantage is the high cost of the device (femtosecond laser) and the relatively expensive procedure. When using the PocketMaker, the corneal pocket is created by a vibrating diamond knife. Suction of the microkeratome head is possible even in relatively opaque cornea. Corneal opacification or vascularization does not present any complication when creating a corneal pocket. All parts of the PocketMaker are reusable, therefore the device is relatively cheap. In addition, all parts of the PockerMaker, including the control panel, can be put into a small suitcase and easily transported. This makes it possible to perform the surgery at a clinic where no femtosecond laser is available. Regarding the surgical procedure, it is very simple and fast, and it can be performed under topical anesthesia.

The artificial cornea KeraKlear is potentially a very useful medical device in the treatment of corneal blindness. Unlike other types of keratoprostheses, the implantation of a KeraKlear is a non-perforating surgery. This theoretically lowers the risk of serious intraoperative and postoperative complications, such as endophthalmitis, bleeding, damage of intraocular tissue and secondary glaucoma. According to our experience, the PocketMaker, a vibrating diamond knife used to create a corneal pocket for the implantation of a keratoprosthesis, is an advisable, simple and cheap alternative to the recommended use of the femtosecond laser.