One year results after femtosecond laser-assisted circular keratotomy (Femto-CKT) as a treatment for keratoconus of stage I and II. Comparison between two different age groups

Session Details

Session Title: Special Cases I

Session Date/Time: Sunday 06/09/2015 | 14:30-16:00

Paper Time: 14:42

Venue: Room 10

First Author: : R. Fulga GERMANY

Co Author(s): :    J. Krumeich   H. Kaymak   K. Klabe   P. Hagen   F. Kretz   G. Auffarth   D. Breyer  

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Circular keratotomy (CKT) represents an effective treatment of the progression of keratoconus, a degenerative disorder of the eye in which the cornea thins and assumes a more and more conical shape. Usually, keratoconus is diagnosed at around 20 and its progession freezes at around 50. Recently, we refined the CKT by replacing the trephine cut by a Femtosecond laser-induced intracorneal cut, rendering sutures unnecessary. The aim of this quality management investigation is to address the question, whether patient age has a significant influence on the prospect of success of Femto-CKT in treating keratoconus of stage I and II.

Setting:

So far, the results of 10 eyes are evaluated over up to 12 month after Femto-CKT treatment (Femto LDV, Ziemer). All treatments and follow up measurements were performed at the Breyer-Kaymak-Klabe Augenchirurgie, Duesseldorf.

Methods:

For clinical evaluation visual acuity at far (CDVA) and subjective refraction (SR) were measured. Corneal radii were assessed with Scheimpflug tomography (Pentacam). Furthermore, optical coherence tomography of the anterior segment was performed with Visante OCT. We compared the results of patients younger than 40 years with those that were older than 40 years.

Results:

In all eyes no signs of a progressing keratoconus were found. Corneal radii and refractive values remained stable within the one-year period of observation. CDVA was <0.00 logMAR one year after surgery and improved compared to its preoperative value. No significant differences were found between the two age groups.

Conclusions:

So far, our results indicate that Femto-CKT is an efficient way to stop the progression of keratoconus of stage I and II. The success of the treatment appears to be independent of the patient age. Further studies including more patients and a longer follow up period are needed to comfort these first data.

Financial Interest:

One of the authors receives consulting fees, retainer, or contract payments from a company producing, developing or supplying the product or procedure presented, One of the authors travel has been funded, fully or partially, by a competing company, One of the authors travel has been funded, fully or partially, by a company producing, developing or supplying the product or procedure presented, One of the authors receives consulting fees, retainer, or contract payments from a competing company