The Dacron felt colonizable keratoprosthesis: after 15 years.

Keratoprostheses (KP) are made of an optical cylinder integrated with a supporting element which governs their biocompatibility. The Pintucci KP with a Dacron tissue three-dimensionally colonizable support was designed in 1979 and has since been improved in order to reduce the complications associated with the use of KP. The biological background (in vivo and in vitro), electron microscopy observations and the surgical technique will be discussed. Sixty-three patients were operated from 1979 with different surgical techniques and Dacron tissues. Twenty transoral mucous KP were implanted with our most recent technique in severely vascularized corneas from 1985 to 1991, with a follow-up ranging from 48 to 85 months. The favorable results may be indicative of their better reliability.