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Synthetic corneal inlays |
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| Authors: | Deborah F Sweeney BOptom PhD FAAO Antti Vannas MD Timothy C Hughes BSc PhD Margaret DM Evans BSc PhD Keith M McLean BSc PhD Ruo Zhong Xie BM MSc PhD VK Pravin MB BS MS Ruby Kala Prakasam BSc DipOptom Vision CRC Inlay Team |
| Affiliation: | 1. Vision Cooperative Research Centre, Sydney, Australia;2. Institute for Eye Research, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia;3. School of Optometry and Vision Science, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia;4. University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland;5. CSIRO Molecular and Health Technologies, Clayton South, Victoria, Australia;6. CSIRO Molecular and Health Technologies, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia;7. LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India E‐mail: d.sweeney@ier.org.au;8. LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India E‐mail: d.sweeney@ier.org.au |
| Abstract: | This review is based on the activities of the Vision Cooperative Research Centre (previously Cooperative Research Centre for Eye Research and Technology) Corneal Implant team from 1991 to 2007. The development of a synthetic polymer of perfluoropolyether (PFPE), meeting essential physical and biological requirements, for use as a corneal inlay is presented. Each inlay was placed in a corneal flap created with a microkeratome and monitored over a two‐year period in a rabbit model. The results indicate that the PFPE implant shows excellent biocompatibility and biostability. As a result, a Phase 1 clinical trial is being conducted. Three years post‐implantation, the PFPE inlays are exhibiting continued excellent biocompatibility. Corneal inlays made from PFPE are biocompatible with corneal tissue in the long term and offer a safe and biologically‐acceptable alternative to other forms of refractive surgery. |
| Keywords: | additive refractive corneal procedure corneal implant corneal inlay perfluropolyether Phase 1 clinical trial |