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Structural Changes Induced by a Corneal Shape-Changing Inlay, Deduced From Optical Coherence Tomography and Wavefront
Alan J Lang1, Keith Holliday1, Arturo Chayet2
1Research and Development ReVision Optics, Inc., Lake Forest, California, United States.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
|July 14, 2016
Summary
A meniscus-shaped corneal inlay reshapes the cornea, causing epithelial thinning and thickening. This remodeling, driven by local curvature, improves near and intermediate vision in presbyopic patients.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Corneal Surgery
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Corneal inlays are used to correct presbyopia.
- Understanding corneal remodeling after inlay implantation is crucial for optimizing visual outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the changes in the anterior stroma and epithelium induced by a meniscus-shaped corneal inlay.
- To test the hypothesis that local curvature drives epithelial remodeling.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 30 emmetropic presbyopic subjects who received a corneal inlay.
- Measurement of anterior corneal surface changes using wavefront techniques.
- Measurement of epithelial thinning using Fourier domain optical coherence tomography.
Main Results:
- The inlay displaced stroma, altering Bowman's layer shape.
- Epithelial thinning of 18.4 ± 7.1 μm occurred anterior to the inlay.
- Epithelial thickening extended to twice the inlay diameter, with a central anterior corneal rise of 9.8 ± 3.4 μm.
Conclusions:
- Corneal inlay implantation reshapes the stromal tissue to predominantly mimic the inlay's shape.
- Epithelial remodeling occurs in a zone approximately twice the inlay diameter.
- The study confirms that epithelial changes are greatest in areas of higher local surface curvature, leading to improved vision.
