Original articleChanges in keratoconic corneas after intracorneal ring segment explantation and reimplantation☆
Section snippets
Patients and methods
We conducted a retrospective chart analysis in which we evaluated the visual, refractive, and topographic changes observed in 5 eyes of 4 patients who had uneventful intracorneal ring segment implantation for clear corneal keratoconus, in which extraction of the segments was necessary during the follow-up period. Three eyes were primarily implanted with 2 segments (0.25 mm superiorly and 0.45 mm inferiorly), and the other 2 with only 1 inferior segment (0.45 mm). In 4 of the 5 eyes the segments
Case 1: extrusion with melting of intracorneal ring segments and explantation
A 32-year-old female had bilateral clear central keratoconus further advanced in her right eye. Corneal topography showed the presence of corneal steepening (Fig 1A).
In February 2000, the patient had uneventful implantation of 2 intracorneal ring segments in her right eye: an inferior 0.45-mm-thick segment and a superior segment of 0.25 mm.
Marked improvement was reported by the patient during the first postoperative months, as evidenced by the UCVA (20/100), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA)
Discussion
Intracorneal ring segment implantation is a relatively new technique, originally designed to correct low degrees of myopic errors. As intracorneal ring segment placement does not involve the direct manipulation of the central cornea or tissue removal, the outcome of the procedure does not depend on individual wound healing characteristics. In addition, the normal prolate surface asphericity of the cornea is preserved.8, 9, 10
The reversibility and adjustability of the refractive effect of
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2022, International Ophthalmology
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Manuscript no. 220971.
The authors have no proprietary interest in the development or marketing of any products or medical equipment used in this study.