title: Conservative treatment of early and moderate pellucid marginal degeneration: a new refractive approach with intracorneal rings.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the use of the intracorneal ring (ICR; Intacs, Addition Technology, Inc., Fremont, CA) for the treatment of pellucid marginal degeneration (PMD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight patients with PMD who were intolerant to contact lenses received ICR segments in the superior cornea (0.25 mm thickness) and in the inferior cornea (0.45 mm thickness). The diagnosis was supported by Orbscan II tomography (Bausch & Lomb).
  
  
  METHODS
  Preoperative and postoperative uncorrected visual acuity, best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), refractive astigmatism, and spherical equivalent were assessed. Changes in corneal shape were evaluated by corneal tomographic maps.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The minimum follow-up was 12 months (range, 12-42 months; standard deviation [SD], 14.14). Uncorrected visual acuity improved in all 8 eyes (100%). At the last postoperative examination, 6 eyes (75%) had a BCVA > or =20/25; mean postoperative refractive astigmatism was -2.53 (range, -4.50 to -1.25; SD, 1.03). Mean postoperative spherical equivalent was -1.52 (range, -7.25 to +1.87; SD, 3.01). At the third postoperative month, refractive stability was obtained. No patients lost any Snellen lines of BCVA. No intraoperative and postoperative complications occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intracorneal ring implantation is a promising new treatment for patients with early to moderate PMD and who are intolerant of contact lenses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Maggiore Hospital, Bologna, Italy. alessandro.mularoni@ausl.bologna.it
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mularoni
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torreggiani
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: di Biase
authors.forename: Gian Luca
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Laffi
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tassinari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003317:Corneal Dystrophies, Hereditary / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019781:Corneal Topography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate