For the very first time: implantation of an artificial cornea

The Ophthalmology Department at Hillel Yaffe Medical Center continues to innovate. This week marked the first time they performed surgery to implant an artificial cornea in a patient who had undergone multiple eye surgeries and a failed corneal transplant.

"This implant is made of a thin sheet of synthetic material that is used to seal the cornea against penetration of fluid. This prevents the development of edema and cloudiness in the cornea, which severely affect vision. Once fluid penetrates the cornea, edema occurs. The implant acts as a protective layer, preventing the fluid from entering the cornea. When there is no fluid infiltration, the cornea becomes transparent, improving vision. This implant enables effective treatment of chronic corneal edema - the leading cause of cornea transplants, the most common transplant surgery all around the world," said Dr. Ramez Barbara, a cornea specialist and pediatric cornea specialist at Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, who performed the surgery together with Dr. Eran Berkowitz, Glaucoma Service Director, and Dr. Anya Grinberg.

Dr. Barbara inserting the artificial implant

Director of HYMC's Ophthalmology Department, Dr. Beatrice Tiosano, said, “We bring cutting-edge technology to our patients. This implant is an important breakthrough in the field of cornea transplant surgery. The implant has many advantages. Firstly, it is a minimally invasive procedure that does not require human tissue or organ donations. Up until now, patients had to wait a fairly long time to obtain a cornea transplant. The artificial implant eliminates the waiting time. Secondly, it is an effective solution for complex cases as well as for patients whose human tissue transplant failed to prevent penetration of fluid into the corneal tissue, causing edema. The artificial implant is a good alternative, as it is made of an inert material the eye does not reject and has already proven its effectiveness in lens transplants during cataract surgery. The implant underwent clinical trials in select medical centers in Europe, India and Israel, during which a significant reduction in corneal edema was shown."