Disease Characteristics

Globally, 12.7 million people suffer from corneal blindness, which results from infection, malnutrition, inheritance, degeneration, or inflammation. More specifically, underdeveloped nations and healthcare systems are prone to seeing an increase in the number of cases annually. Unhygienic conditions experienced in these countries and genetics are two major contributing factors of the disease. Patients suffering from corneal blindness typically experience pain in their eye and an increase in the opacity of the cornea. This eventually leads to impaired vision, which is why this condition is the 4th leading cause of blindness in the world.

Treatment Options

The current standard of care for this disease is corneal transplant, but unfortunately this is not always an option for everyone in need. The main obstacle is that there are not enough donors to aid everyone with this condition, leading to the need for a new solution. In recent years, the Keratoprothesis has emerged as an artificial alternative to donor tissue. This development has greatly increased the number of patients that can be treated, but certain issues still remain. Many keratoprosthesis devices are too expensive for people in developing countries, leading to the need for a reinvented solution.