Iris Reconstructive Intraocular Lens

Doctors have been transplanting corneas for years, but they've never been able to implant an iris...until now. Last spring, Mtima Davis was securing a load with a bungee cord when it snapped and caught his left eye. Co-workers rushed him to Mt. Carmel East Hospital. Dr. Richard Erdey was able to save his damaged eye...but he was blind. Mtima had lost his iris and lens and severely scarred his cornea. The cornea provides a clear covering for the eye. The lens does the focusing, and the iris (the colored part of the eye), opens and closes the pupil in response to light. Dr. Erdey knew more surgery would be required.

View: 10 TV News Story

Left Eye: after emergent repair. Note cornea scar and total loss of iris

He could replace the cornea with donor tissue and the lens with a conventional implant. But without the iris, Mtima would see poorly and be very light sensitive. So Dr. Erdey spent six months working to obtain special permission from the FDA to implant an artificial iris, developed by researchers in the Netherlands. The operation, the first of its kind in Ohio, was a success. Mtima already has 20/40 vision in his formerly blind eye!

Left Eye: after iris implant and cornea transplant