Changes in keratoconic corneas after intracorneal ring segment explantation and reimplantation.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the outcome and potential reversibility of the changes induced in keratoconic eyes after intracorneal ring segment explantation.


METHODS
Retrospective, interventional case series.


METHODS
Five eyes of 4 patients who underwent uneventful implantation of one or two intracorneal ring segment segments for the correction of clear corneal keratoconus and who required explantation of one segment due to complications.


METHODS
Visual acuity, refraction, keratometric readings, and corneal topography. The follow-up was up to 1 year from the primary implantation procedure in all cases.


RESULTS
Explantation was performed easily in all cases without intraoperative or postoperative complications. The segments were extracted due to migration and local melting. The visual, refractive, and topographic map findings regressed to approximate the original clinical situation before segment implantation.


CONCLUSIONS
Intracorneal ring segments are safely and easily explanted from keratoconic eyes. Most of the visual, refractive, and topographic findings return to near the preimplantation levels.
Alió
Jorge L
JL
Refractive Surgery and Cornea Department, Instituto Oftalmológico de Alicante, Medical School, Miguel Hernández University, Avda. Denia 111, 03015 Alicante, Spain. jlalio@oftalio.com
Artola
Alberto
A
Ruiz-Moreno
José M
JM
Hassanein
Ahmed
A
Galal
Ahmed
A
Awadalla
Mohamed A
MA
D000328:Adult; D003315:Cornea / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D019781:Corneal Topography; D020878:Device Removal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D012029:Refraction, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate