Abstract

Editorials 3 Wilson J. ``Grow your own eyes'' operation to save sight. Guardian 1999; Setting these exciting possibilities against a 18 Mar:7, col 1. background of uncertainty and generally poor results 4 Hawkes N. Doctors bury lens in cheek to save sight. Times 1999; 18 for existing techniques defines the dilemma for doctors Mar:11, col 1. 5 Brook D. Surgery gives sight a chance. Independent 1999; 18 Mar: 9, col 7. and patients alike. Visual potential is often lost when 6 Hicks CR, Fitton JH, Chirila TV, Crawford GJ, Constable IJ. Keratopros­ keratoprosthesis surgery fails. The chance of regaining thesis: advancing towards a true artificial cornea. Surv Ophthalmol 1997;42:175­89. vision now must be balanced against the possibility that 7 Pintucci S, Pintucci F, Cecconi M, Caiazza S. New dacron colonisable techniques may soon improve. For younger patients in keratoprosthesis. Br J Ophthalmol 1995;79:825­9. particular, this equation must be carefully considered. 8 Girard LJ. Keratoprosthesis. Cornea 1983;2:207­24. 9 Coury AJ. Chemical and biochemical degradation of polymers. In: For the present, there are strong arguments for Rattner BD, Hoffman AS, Schoen FJ, Lemons JE, eds. Biomaterials science. concentrating on keratoprostheses that do not require San Diego: Academic Press, 1996:243­60. destructive surgery