title: Effect of age on outcomes in patients with keratoconus treated by Intacs using a femtosecond laser.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the response to Intacs treatment in different age groups of patients with keratoconus.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred nine eyes with keratoconus treated with Intacs by using femtosecond laser were divided into three groups according to age: group 1, 13 to 19 years old (n = 20); group 2, 20 to 35 years old (n = 75), and group 3, 35 to 56 years old (n = 14). All patients had clear central corneas and were contact lens intolerant. Pre- and postoperative examination data including uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), mean refraction spherical equivalent (MRSE), and K-readings were evaluated. Pre- and postoperative corneal topographies were examined. Visual acuities were detected by Snellen chart. Postoperative follow-up was 1 year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The improvement in UCVA, BSCVA, MRSE, and K-readings postoperatively in each group was statistically significant. The pre- and postoperative differences in UCVA (P = .930), BSCVA (P = .470), MRSE (P = .205), and K-readings (P = .545) were similar among groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intacs treatment is safe and effective in all age groups. Therefore, it may be an alternative treatment to penetrating keratoplasty in adolescent patients with keratoconus who are intolerant of contact lenses.
authors.affiliation: Kudret Eye Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. ertanaylin@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Aylin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ertan
authors.forename: Ersel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ozkilic
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000601:surgery*; D019781:Corneal Topography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D054018:Lasers, Excimer / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate