Posters

Epikeratophakia using small-incision lenticule extraction lenticule addition combined with corneal cross-linking for keratoconus: a case study

Poster Details

First Author: J.Zhao CHINA

Co Author(s):    X. Zhou                    

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To investigate the feasibility and effect of a novel epikeratophakia technique using small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) lenticule addition combined with corneal cross-linking (CXL) in a patient with keratoconus.

Setting:

Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

Methods:

An 18-year-old man diagnosed with keratoconus underwent epikeratophakia using SMILE lenticule addition in his left eye, which had a minimum corneal thickness (MCT) of 356 μm. Accelerated (45 mW/cm2) transepithelial CXL was performed 1 month later. He was followed up for 3 years postoperatively; examinations included anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and measurement of uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), subjective refrac¬tion, and topographic changes.

Results:

The cornea achieved complete epithelialization within 1 week. At 3 years postoperatively, UDVA of the left eye had improved from 20/200 preoperatively to 20/63, and CDVA had improved from 20/125 to 20/40. Manifest refraction was -1.5 D sphere/-5.25 D cylinder × 110 degrees. Corneal topography revealed an increase in the thickness of the central and mid-peripheral cornea resulting from lenticule implantation, and MCT of 470 μm. Mean keratometry and greatest posterior elevation values were stable from 3 months postoperatively. AS-OCT revealed that the lenticule remained transparent and attached smoothly with a visible demarcation line.

Conclusions:

Epikeratophakia using SMILE lenticule addition combined with CXL can be safe and effective, and may constitute a viable alternative treatment in cases of keratoconus with a thin cornea.

Financial Disclosure:

None