Corneal stromal filler injection for the correction of hyperopia

Session Details

Session Title: Corneal Refractive Surgery

Session Date/Time: Tuesday 17/09/2019 | 14:00-16:00

Paper Time: 15:33

Venue: Free Paper Forum: Podium 3

First Author: : C.Wertheimer USA

Co Author(s): :    K. Brandt   S. Kaminsky   C. Elhardt   S. Kassumeh   R. Anderson   R. Birngruber              

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Corneal laser surgery for hyperopia correction poses a higher risk when compared to myopia of post laser surgery complications, e.g., dry eye and optical disturbances like higher order aberrations, and a high rate of secondary corrections. The following is an in-vitro and in-vivo study to evaluate a new technique using a corneal filler injection for curvature reshaping.

Setting:

Wellman center of photomedicine, Massachusetts generel hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.

Methods:

A biocompatible, liquid, transparent and viscous filler material injected into a femtosecond laser created corneal pocket for curvature re-shaping in two different corneal depths (120 and 250 microns) in 177 fresh rabbit cadaver eyes. The pocket diameter was chosen to be 7mm. Corneal elasticity was determined by tensile strength testing and Young’s modulus was calculated. We furthermore conducted an in-vivo evaluation of the proposed technique in 12 life rabbits with 3 months follow up.

Results:

The induced magnitude of correction (+ dpt.) was dependent on volume injected, the pocket depth and individual biomechanics of the cornea. A clinical treatment scheme could be derived. In the in-vivo rabbit study a stable filler volume, a clear cornea and no adverse reactions were observed at 3 month follow-up.

Conclusions:

This study shows promising results, that might lead to a clinical application of the newly proposed method. The proposed technique has several theoretical advantages that might improve the result in hyperopia correction.

Financial Disclosure:

research is funded, fully or partially, by a company producing, developing or supplying the product or procedure presented