Intrastromal corneal ring segment implantation for ectasia after refractive surgery

To evaluate the clinical outcomes of implantation of Ferrara intrastromal corneal ring segments (ICRS) in patients with corneal ectasia after refractive surgery.

Private clinic, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

Charts of patients with corneal ectasia after refractive surgery were retrospectively reviewed. The following parameters were studied: uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), keratometry, corneal asphericity, and pachymetry. All patients were evaluated by Scheimpflug scanning-slit tomography (Pentacam).

Twenty-five eyes (20 patients) with corneal ectasia (20 after laser in situ keratomileusis, 4 after radial keratotomy, 1 after photorefractive keratectomy) were evaluated. Postoperatively, the mean UDVA increased from 20/185 to 20/66 (P = .005) and the mean CDVA, from 20/125 to 20/40 (P = .008). The mean asphericity decreased from -0.95 preoperatively to -0.23 postoperatively (P = .006). The mean pachymetry at the apex of the cornea increased from 457.7 microm +/- 48.7 (SD) preoperatively to 466.2 +/- 49.8 mum postoperatively (P = .025) and the mean pachymetry at the thinnest point, from 436.3 +/- 46.2 microm to 453.9 +/- 49.3 microm (P = .000). The mean keratometry decreased from 45.41 +/- 5.63 diopters (D) to 42.88 +/- 4.44 D, respectively; the decrease was statistically significant (P = .000).

Intrastromal corneal ring segment implantation significantly improved UDVA and CDVA in patients with corneal ectasia.