Posters

Intracorneal ring segment implantantion for treating keratoconus: safety and efficacy

Poster Details

First Author: L. Martinez Perez SPAIN

Co Author(s):    R. Tourino   M. Rodriguez                 

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To investigate the efficacy of intracorneal ring segments (ICRS) implantation for treating keratoconus.

Setting:

Cornea and Ocular Surface Unit, Department of Ophthalmology. Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

Methods:

It was a retrospective case series descriptive study. A total of 115 patients with diagnosis of progressive keratoconus were enroled. This included 54 (47%) males and 61 (53%) females between the age of 17 to 56 years. All participants underwent surgical implantation of ICRS (Keraring®, Mediphacos, Belo Horizonte) in the period between January 2009 and December 2014 at Santiago de Compostela University Hospital. Ophthalmologic examinations were performed to measure visual acuity (VA) (logMAR scales), refraction and topographic parameters before and one year after surgery. Contact lens (CL) fitting and other adjuvant surgery therapies after surgery to improve VA were analized.

Results:

Findings indicated an overall significant postoperative improvement in best spectacle corrected VA throughout follow up visits. Moreover, results illustrated CL fitted in 63 patients (54,8%) after surgery. The average VA improved from 0,24±0,03 to 0,10 ±0,01 logMAR units after CL fitting. Nine rigid gas-permeable CL were fitted, eight piggy-back approach, twenty-two hybrid CL, sixteen toric soft CL, and eight disposable soft CL. Three patients precised keratoplasty due to poor visual outcomes and CL intolerance after surgery.

Conclusions:

The implantation of ICRS has proven to be a safe and feasible procedure for the treatment of mild-moderate keratoconus, especially for patients with CL intolerance. CL fitting after surgery is posible and improves VA. This may postpone the need for penetrating keratoplasty. Nevertheless, further research is needed to investigate long term outcomes.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE