Editing Corneal transplantation (section)

===AlphaCor===
In cases where there have been several graft failures or the risk for keratoplasty is high, synthetic corneas can substitute successfully for donor corneas. Such a device contains a peripheral skirt and a transparent central region. These two parts are connected on a molecular level by an [[interpenetrating polymer network]], made from [[polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate|poly-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate]] (pHEMA). AlphaCor is a U.S. [[Food and Drug Administration|FDA]]-approved type of synthetic cornea measuring 7.0&nbsp;mm in diameter and 0.5&nbsp;mm in thickness. The main advantages of synthetic corneas are that they are biocompatible, and the network between the parts and the device prevents complications that could arise at their interface. The probability of retention in one large study was estimated at 62% at 2 years follow-up.<ref name="pmid17133049">{{cite journal |vauthors=Hicks CR, Crawford GJ, Dart JK, Grabner G, Holland EJ, Stulting RD, Tan DT, Bulsara M |title=AlphaCor: Clinical outcomes |journal=[[Cornea]] |volume=25 |issue=9 |pages=1034–42 |date=October 2006 |pmid=17133049 |doi=10.1097/01.ico.0000229982.23334.6b |s2cid=20035059 }}</ref>