Kisan Jadhav (name changed) was studying for his master’s degree in history in Jalna, a small town in central Maharashtra. He was a studious, quiet youngster, intent on realizing his dream of becoming a professor after completing his Ph.D. His life changed one day, when some miscreants, mistaking him for someone else, threw acid upon his face. He was admitted to the local hospital with extensive chemical burns of the face and both eyes severely damaged.
Several months of painful reconstructive surgeries later his face regained some semblance of normalcy. Unfortunately he was totally blind both eyes. The left eye had shrunk to a third of its size and was unable to even perceive light. The right eye could perceive light, but the cornea was totally opaque and the eye was bone dry with virtually no tear production. In such a situation with inadequate tear secretion, a corneal graft is doomed to failure. Fortunately, his eye surgeons had heard of a new treatment suitable for such patients. He was referred to Mumbai and operated upon in 2 stages and an artificial cornea or Pintucci keratoprosthesis was implanted in his right eye. It is now one year since this surgery. Kisan has 6/6 or normal distance vision with glasses and can read the tiniest of print without any glasses. He has resumed his studies and has passed his MA exam.

These are some of the frequently asked questions about keratoprosthesis or KP.


Q. Who are suitable candidates for KP?


A. Those who are blind in both eyes, with at least accurate perception of light in the better eye.
The surgery is done in only one eye.



Q. Can those who have had corneal grafting surgery multiple times, which have failed be
operated for KP?

A. Yes, those who have had repeatedly failed or rejected corneal grafts are excellent candidates
for KP, provided sonography shows the retina is intact and there is no severe glaucoma.

Q. What about those with corneal opacity who have been refused corneal transplant because of dry
eye or very vascularised cornea or diseases like pemphigus or chemical burns where corneal
transplant is not advised?

A. Such patients can be operated upon for KP surgery.

Q. Is this surgery expensive?

A. Yes, the cost of the Pintucci Keratoprosthesis, which is imported from Europe, is very high.
Besides, the surgery is technically demanding. It is done in 2 stages, 2 months apart. Each
stage surgery lasts for 2-3 hours. Some tissue also needs to taken from the patient’s mouth. It
is generally done under general anaesthesia.

Q. Can this surgery be done instead of a corneal graft?

A. No. This is a surgery of last resort. It is done only for those who have failed grafts or in
whom grafting is not advisable. Corneal grafting is still the treatment of first choice for those
with opaque corneas and adequate tears.

Q. Can the KP be rejected?

A. No. It is made of the same material that most IOLs are made – polymethylmethacylate or
PMMA, which is an inert plastic.

Q. What is the success rate?

A. The author has done approximately 51 cases so far, with a follow up of 9 years. The success
rate, i.e. those patients retaining useful vision after the surgery is 65% in the author’s hands.
Dr. Pintucci, the inventor of this device, has done over a 1000 cases over 20 years with a
similar success rate.

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