Keratoprosthesis and uses thereof

1. A keratoprosthesis comprising:

(a) a transparent central optical core; and

(b) an annular peripheral skirt attached to and substantially surrounding a Perimeter of said central optical core, said annular peripheral skirt comprising an anterior conjunctiva-contacting surface configured to contact a posterior surface of the conjunctiva of the patient's eye, a posterior sclera-contacting surface configured to contact an anterior surface of the sclera of the patient's eye, said peripheral skirt comprising at least one porous biocompatible layer having pore size of at least 2 μm;

wherein said central optical core has a diameter of at least 3 mm and further comprises an extended portion extending axially below a surface formed by the central optical core and annular peripheral skirt, said extended portion sized and configured for anchoring said central optical core in place into a trephined space of a central cornea of a patient's eye; and

wherein said peripheral skirt has a width of at least 3 mm and a thickness ranging from about 100 microns to about 2000 microns, wherein the peripheral skirt is sized and configured so that it can be placed under the conjunctiva and above sclera of the eye, wherein the width of the peripheral skirt extends from attachment to perimeter of central optical core to an outer edge of the peripheral skirt.

2. The keratoprosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one porous biocompatible layer has a pore size of 2 pm to 100 pm.

3. The keratoprosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one porous biocompatible layer is a polymeric layer.

4. The keratoprosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one porous biocompatible layer is a nonwoven fabric.

5. The keratoprosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one porous biocompatible layer comprises nanofibers.

6. The keratoprosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one porous biocompatible layer is formed by electrospinning process.

7. The keratoprosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one porous biocompatible layer is selected from the group consisting of poly(DTE carbonate) polycaprolactone (PCL), polylactic acid (PLA), poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), Poly(DL-lactide-co-caprolactone, Poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) vinyl acetate, Poly(methyl methacrylate), Poly(propylene carbonate), Poly(vinylidene fluoride), Polyacrylonitrile, Polycaprolactone, Polycarbomethylsilane, Polylactic acid, Polystyrene, Polyvinylpyrrolidone, poly vinyl alcohol (PVA), polyethylene oxide (PEO), polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), hyaluronic acid (HA), chitosan, alginate, polyhydroxybuyrate and its copolymers, Nylon 11, Cellulose acetate, hydroxyappetite, poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid-co-3-hydroxyvaleric acid), poly(DL-lactide), polycaprolactone, and poly(L-lactide) or any combination thereof.

8. The keratoprosthesis according to of claim 1 , wherein the central optical core has a diameter ranging from about 3 to 15 mm.

9. The keratoprosthesis according to of claim 1 , wherein the central optical core has a thickness ranging from about 500 micrometers to 3000 micrometers.

10. The keratoprosthesis according to of claim 1 , wherein the peripheral skirt further comprises a biomolecule or an antibiotic agent.

11. The keratoprosthesis according to of claim 1 , wherein the peripheral skirt further comprises a biomolecule wherein the biomolecule is selected from the group consisting of a protein, type I collagen, fibronectin, or TGF-beta 2, heparin, growth factors, antibodies, antimetabolites, chemotherapeutic agents, and any combinations thereof.

12. The keratoprosthesis according to of claim 1 , wherein the peripheral skirt has a width of between 3 to 9 mm.

13. The keratoprosthesis according to of claim 1 , wherein the peripheral skirt has a width ranging from about 4 to about 6 mm.

14. The keratoprosthesis according to of claim 1 , wherein said optical core and peripheral skirt are mechanically attached to each other.

15. The keratoprosthesis according to of claim 1 , wherein said optical core and peripheral skirt are chemically attached to each other.