Dr.K S SIDDHARTHAN, Dr.Jagadeesh Kumar Reddy K, DR.RUSHITA R KAMDAR
Collagenous biomaterials can be stabilized by chemical and physical agents and glutaraldehyde (GA) is the most commonly used crosslinking agent for collagen based biomaterials. It increases the crosslinks both intrahelical and interhelical and is thus known to increase the tensile strength of the tissue. Studies have shown that GA exerts the maximum biochemical effect on the cornea. At our clinic we investigated the possibility of induction of cross-links in donor corneal tissue in order to increase the stiffness as a basis for an ingenious technique of keratoprosthesis. This increased tensile strength would in due course prevent donor tissue melt and leaks, this being the primary concern with widespread use of keratoprosthesis. Eventually it would lead to an increased life of the keratoprosthesis. In our video we will show the procedure of tissue treatment, tensile strength tests, surgical procedure and the post-operative results of these patients.