OOKP protocol update

Purpose The OOKP remains the procedure of choice for restoring sight in patients with corneal blindness caused by end-stage ocular surface disease not amenable to cadaveric keratoplasty. Falcinelli's modifications of Strampelli's technique of OOKP surgery remains the gold standard for its excellent visual and keratoprosthesis-retention results. To maintain good outcomes, aid research and to maintain standards, it is important that benchmarks are maintained in patient selection and preoperative assessment, surgical technique and post-operative care. We therefore present, for discussion, the updated protocol that is currently used in the British National OOKP Referral Centre at the Sussex Eye Hospital, Brighton. Methods Members of the OOKP Study Group met in Rome, Italy in 2001 and Vienna, Austria in 2002 to produce and up-to-date standard and protocol. Since then, we have continued to update our protocol on the basis of our own outcomes and findings. We present our updated protocol for discussion and for use in other OOKP centres. Results Our updated protocol includes a discussion on the indications and contraindications for surgery, criteria for patient selection, surgical technique, routine postoperative care, and the recognition and management of postoperative complications. Conclusion 5 years have passed since the standards for modified OOKP surgery were published. This paper highlights changes to this standard resulting from our practice in our national OOKP centre.