Intrastromal corneal ring segments: visual outcomes from a large case series

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Corneal Surgery
• Vision Science

Background:

• Ectatic corneal diseases, such as keratoconus, cause progressive corneal steepening and visual impairment.
• Intrastromal corneal ring segments (ICRS) are used to manage these conditions.
• The Ferrara intrastromal corneal ring segments (ICRS) are a specific type of implant used for this purpose.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical safety and efficacy of Ferrara intrastromal corneal ring segments (ICRS) implantation.
• To assess outcomes in a large patient cohort with ectatic corneal disease.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective, consecutive case series included 1073 eyes of 810 patients.
• Patients were divided into two groups based on the implanted ring arc: 160° (Group 1) and 210° (Group 2).
• Outcomes measured included uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), keratometry, asphericity, and pachymetry, assessed via corneal tomography.

Main Results:

• Both 160° and 210° Ferrara ICRS implantation led to significant improvements in UCVA, BCVA, reduced keratometry, and decreased asphericity (P < 0.001).
• The 210° ICRS demonstrated a greater reduction in keratometry and asphericity compared to the 160° ICRS.
• The overall complication rate was 3.82%.

Conclusions:

• Ferrara ICRS implantation is a safe and effective surgical option for ectatic corneal diseases.
• The procedure effectively reduces corneal steepening and improves both uncorrected and best-corrected visual acuity.
• The low complication rate further supports its clinical utility.