Intrastromal corneal ring segment implantation by femtosecond laser for keratoconus correction.
OBJECTIVE
To report the outcomes after the implantation of intrastromal corneal ring segments (KERARING) aided by femtosecond laser for the correction of keratoconus.


METHODS
Prospective consecutive interventional study.


METHODS
Twenty-one eyes of 16 consecutive keratoconic patients with mean age 32+/-10.2 years. Forty-five percent were keratoconus grade I, 20% grade II, 15% grade III, and 20% grade IV.


METHODS
Intrastromal corneal ring segments KERARING were implanted for keratoconus correction after corneal tunnel creation with the aid of femtosecond laser (IntraLase Corp, Irvine CA).


METHODS
Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), refractive outcome, complete ophthalmologic examination, videokeratography, and corneal higher order aberrations (HOA) were determined or performed before and after surgery at 1 day, 1 week, and 3 and 6 months. In addition, operative and postoperative complications were recorded.


RESULTS
KERARING implantation significantly increased UCVA from 0.06 to 0.3 (P< or =0.0001), BSCVA from 0.54 to 0.71 (P< or =0.0003), and decreased the spherical equivalent by 2.28 diopters (D) and the average keratometric values (K value) by 2.24 D (P<0.001). There was no significant difference between the 3 and 6 months follow-up. Forty percent (8 eyes with a relatively low RMS of total HOA) showed a nonsignificant increase in the RMS of total HOA and 60% (12 eyes with a relatively higher RMS of total HOA> or =3.0 microm) showed significant (P< or =0.01) decrease in the RMS of total HOA due to a significant (P< or =0.003) reduction in coma and comalike aberrations. The amount of change in corneal curvature (biomechanical response) ranged from a decrease of 18% from its initial value to an increase of 2.75% and was not correlated to any preoperative parameter. Localized infectious keratitis occurred in only 1 eye (4.8%), and incision opacification occurred in 8 eyes (38%).


CONCLUSIONS
Intrastromal corneal ring segment implantation with femtosecond laser is an effective method for correcting keratoconus with reduction in corneal HOA in eyes with coma aberration > 3.0 microm.
Shabayek
Mohamed H
MH
Vissum Instituto Oftalmológico de Alicante/Department of Cornea and Refractive Surgery and Division of Ophthalmology, Miguel Hernández University Medical School, Alicante, Spain.
Alió
Jorge L
JL
D000328:Adult; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000503:physiopathology; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019781:Corneal Topography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate