A new and promising corneal implant has made the life of a 78-year-old legally blind man better after the success of the surgery.
The video published by the company shows the procedure.
Blind Man Sees Again
According to local news outlet, Israel Hayom, the KPro synthetic cornea is made by the Israeli startup company CorNeat and is the first-ever implant that can be directly integrated into the eye wall without donor tissue, quickly replacing damaged corneas that can cause severe vision issues.
Based on the report, the old man was the inaugural patient for the implant, with the procedure spearheaded by Professor Irit Bahar, the head of the Opthalmology Department at the Rabin Medical Center, which is formerly known as the Beilinson Hotel, located in the city of Petah Tikva in Israel.
After the surgery was done, the patient was quickly able to recognize family members and was even able to read numbers on an eye chart.
"The surgical procedure was straightforward and the result exceeded all of our expectations. The moment we took off the bandages was emotional and significant," Professor Bahar said. "Moments like these are the fulfillment of our calling as doctors. We are proud of being at the forefront of this exciting and meaningful project which will undoubtedly impact the lives of millions."
Simple Procedure, No Electronics
The KPro is not the first artificial corneal implant that exists since there are several different choices available, but due to the complexity of the procedures needed, they are often the last resort in case cornea rings or transplants from donors do not work.
Nevertheless, the CorNeat artificial cornea implant apparently only needed minimal cutting and stitches, making the procedure easier and more straightforward.
Furthermore, the company said the implant uses a biomimetic material that "stimulates cellular proliferation, leading to progressive tissue integration."
It's not a robotic implant as it does not include any electronics, but it is claimed to work better than most electronic implants used in such situations.
The company has published a short video that helps people understand the implant and the procedure more, which ends with the implant fully integrating inside the eye wall that only happens within weeks of the surgery.
"Fibroblasts and collagen gradually colonize the integrating skirt and full integration is achieved within weeks, permanently embedding the device within the patient's eye," the company said.
If you fear that the implant may look too artificial, don't worry since it's incredibly natural-looking.
More Procedures Happening Soon
CorNeat's implant is safely and securely kept in a protective holder, along with a set of customized tools required to properly install the artificial implant, including a snapper, marker, and a trephine that is used in some cases.
According to Engadget, ten more scheduled patients will receive the implant as part of CorNeat's trial test in Israel.
After Israel, the company is planning to extend its reach and add two more surgeries in Canada, while six others are awaiting approval in France, the United States, and the Netherlands.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says that corneal blindness impacts 2 million new patients each year, but there is often a shortage of donors to help both old and new patients, making the CorNeat KPro incredibly promising.
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Written by Nhx Tingson
