Inventors:
John C. Barber - Pittsburgh PA
International Classification:
A61F 214
Abstract:
An improved corneal prosthesis is comprised of an optical core member having a frustoconical shape and preferably a substantially cylindrical anterior section and a substantially conical posterior section. The optical core member of an alloplastic material, preferably intraocular grade polymethylmethacrylate, has an anterior flange portion extending peripherally about the anterior optical end portion of the core member at least about 0. 5 and preferably less than 1. 0 millimeter. A skirt member extends peripherally about and is attached, preferably mechanically, to the optical core member at a peripheral groove between the anterior section and the posterior section and is capable of being implanted in a lamellar pocket in the eye. The skirt member is of a hydrophylic porous semi-flexible material, preferably porous polytetrafluoroethylene, porous polytetrafluoroethylene carbon or porous polytetrafluoroethylene aluminum oxide fibers, has anterior and posterior contact surfaces with a total area greater than about 100 square millimeters, and preferably has a flexure modulus of a porous polytetrafluoroethylene aluminum oxide fiber sheet of between 0. 15 and 0. 30 millimeter in thickness.