title: Changes in keratoconic corneas after intracorneal ring segment explantation and reimplantation.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Refractive Surgery and Cornea Department, Instituto Oftalmológico de Alicante, Medical School, Miguel Hernández University, Avda. Denia 111, 03015 Alicante, Spain. jlalio@oftalio.com
authors.forename: Jorge L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Alió
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Artola
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Moreno
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hassanein
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galal
authors.forename: Mohamed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Awadalla
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate