Topography-guided surface ablation for forme fruste keratoconus.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of customized surface ablation in cases of forme fruste keratoconus.


METHODS
Prospective noncomparative case series.


METHODS
Eleven eyes of 8 contact lens-intolerant patients with forme fruste keratoconus treated at the Institute of Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery and the University Eye Clinic Zurich.


METHODS
Topography-guided customized surface ablation by means of a scanning spot excimer laser.


METHODS
Visual acuity, refraction, quality of vision (ghosting), corneal topography including the Zernike parameter Z3.


RESULTS
Statistically significant reduction of manifest refractive error, corneal irregularity, and ghosting. The spherical equivalent was reduced by -2.8+/-0.62 diopters (D) (P = 0.0007), the cylinder by 1.34 +/- 0.18 D (P = 0.015), Z3 was reduced by 41% (P<0.001), and all patients had less ghosting compared to their preoperative status. No eye lost > or =1 lines in best spectacle-corrected visual acuity; however, 7 of 11 eyes gained > or = 1 line.


CONCLUSIONS
Topography-guided surface ablation is a promising option to rehabilitate vision in contact lens-intolerant patients with forme fruste keratoconus.
Koller
Tobias
T
Institut für Refraktive und Ophthalmochirurgie, Zurich, Switzerland.
Iseli
Hans Peter
HP
Donitzky
Christof
C
Ing
Dipl
D
Papadopoulos
Nikolaos
N
Seiler
Theo
T
D000328:Adult; D003315:Cornea / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019781:Corneal Topography; D006801:Humans; D049008:Keratectomy, Subepithelial, Laser-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008875:Middle Aged; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012029:Refraction, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology