Current treatment options for corneal ectasia.
OBJECTIVE
The approach to the management of various forms of corneal ectasia is changing, with the advent of new surgical and nonsurgical options. The purpose of this review is to summarize and evaluate relevant studies on new treatments for keratoconus, postrefractive surgery keratectasia, and peripheral ectatic corneal disorders.


RESULTS
Various alternatives to corneal transplantation for the management of keratoconus aim to enhance corneal rigidity by means of nonsurgical collagen cross-linking, or with the use of intrastromal corneal ring segments, and studies suggest that these treatments may reduce astigmatism or ectatic progression to varying degrees. Recent developments in anterior lamellar keratoplasty enable targeted replacement or augmentation of corneal stroma without replacement of endothelium, and include procedures such as deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty, microkeratome or laser-assisted anterior lamellar surgery, and peripheral tectonic lamellar keratoplasty procedures demonstrate successful reinforcement of peripheral stroma to reduce astigmatism.


CONCLUSIONS
These new forms of surgery are viable alternatives to conventional penetrating keratoplasty and bring added safety profiles for long-term visual rehabilitation and restoration of tectonic integrity in central and peripheral forms of corneal ectasia.
Tan
Donald T H
DT
Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore Eye Research Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore. snecdt@pacific.net.sg
Por
Yong-Ming
YM
D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000601:surgery; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures / Q000639:trends*; D011183:Postoperative Complications