osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis

osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis

An artificial cornea used as a last resource to restore vision to people whose corneas have been rendered opaque by dry-eye disease or chemical injury that precludes successful corneal grafting. A tooth is removed and a section cut from it. This is drilled and a plastic lens cemented into the hole. The tooth section is then buried under the skin until it has acquired a soft tissue surround. It is then sutured into a hole cut in the opaque cornea.