The recent development of a keratoprosthesis now offers an alternative procedure to patients who have repeatedly rejected natural donor corneas in previous corneal transplant procedures or who are not eligible to receive human donor corneas due to various eye conditions such as severe ocular surface diseases and dry eye. There are currently two different types of artificial corneas that have been approved by the US FDA to restore vision. The Dohlman artificial cornea combines a donor cornea with man-made materials to increase compatibility, while the AlphaCor device is covered by the patient’s own tissue for a period of time to promote healing and integration of the device to the ocular tissues. Both of these options are still being perfected, but have demonstrated success clinically and continue to be promising alternatives to corneal transplants using donor tissue alone.

> Treated at the Ocular Surface Diseases and Dry Eye Clinic