Ophthalmology Commons^™

A Foldable Nonpenetrating Keratoprosthesis: Medium To Long-Term Clinical Results In Patients With Corneal Blindness Due To Noninflammatory Anterior Cornea Disease., Jose M Vargas, Eric Shiuey

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: To report the medium to long-term safety and performance outcomes of the KeraKlear nonpenetrating artificial cornea (KeraKlear) as the primary procedure in patients with corneal blindness due to noninflammatory anterior cornea disease.

METHODS: Fifteen patients with corneal blindness (preoperative visual acuity [VA] of ≥20/200) due to a non-inflammatory anterior corneal condition were included in this prospective, single-center study. Preoperative diagnoses included corneal scars, keratoconus, and corneal dystrophies. Diseased corneas were implanted with the KeraKlear (KeraMed Inc., Irvine, California, USA) by a single surgeon (JMV) using a femtosecond laser to create all incisions. Participants were followed up with for as …

Access To Eye Care Before And After Vision Loss: A Qualitative Study Investigating Eye Care Among Persons Who Have Become Blind, Tosha Zaback, Stephanie Lam, Joan Randall, Teresa Field, Mitchell V. Brinks

The Qualitative Report

Navigating access to eye care requires that patients recognize the need for screening and care, employ limited financial and social resources, manage complex health insurance policies, and access specialty clinical care. We investigated the experience of patients through the progression of vision loss to blindness, utilizing qualitative methods. We conducted structured telephone interviews with 28 persons with blindness throughout Oregon. Utilizing closed and open-ended questions, we explored patient experience on the events preceding avoidable blindness. Coding for emergent themes was conducted independently by two researchers using a constant comparative method. Participants described important barriers to accessing eye care: at the …