The effect of increased intraocular pressure (IOP) in human cadaver eyes implanted with posterior fixation keratoprosthesis was evaluated. Experiments were carried out with six fresh pairs of human cadaver eyes. One eye of each pair was implanted with a PCL-5 keratoprosthesis (8.60 mm diameter with an optic of 5.60 nm diameter) and the contralateral eye was used as a control. The keratoprosthesis was inserted through a 6 mm diameter opening trephined in the cornea. The resistance of the implanted eye to pressure on `aqueous humor' leak and/or keratoprosthesis extrusion was tested by infusing water at a constant flow of 60 mmHg/second into the anterior chamber. IOP variations were recorded with a transducer connected to a computer. IOP could be increased up to 1520 to 2324 mmHg before aqueous humor leaks occurred. Leaks were always located at the keratoprosthesis-cornea interface. No prosthesis extrusion was observed. Implanted eyes that did not leak aqueous and control eyes tore at the sclera. All posterior fixation keratoprostheses implanted eyes resisted more than 100 times the normal physiological intraocular pressure and on this standpoint is safe. Additional experiments were needed to assess the influence of suture fixation and wound healing in an animal model.