Intrastromal corneal ring implant safe

Intrastromal corneal ring segment (ICRS) implantation is safe and offers good visual and refractive outcomes in patients with paracentral keratoconus.

Dr Jose F. Alfonso and his team, based in Fernández-Vega Ophthalmological Institute, Oviedo, Spain, evaluated 56 eyes of 49 patients. The cohort study measured Snellen uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuities (UDVA and CDVA), along with residual refractive errors before implantation and six months after implantation. The ICRS was implanted into tunnels created by femtosecond laser.

Mean preoperative UDVA was 0.17 ± 0.14 and 0.41 ± 0.28 six months postoperatively. Mean CDVA was 0.70 ± 0.18 and 0.80 ± 0.17 pre and postoperatively, respectively.

Of the patients assessed, five eyes lost one lines of CDVA, 17 eyes had the same CDVA at baseline, 15 eyes gained one line, nine eyes gained two lines, seven eyes gained three lines and three eyes gained four lines.

ICRS implantation is a predictable and safe procedure for refractive correction in paracentral keratoconus cases.

The abstract can be found in the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.