Microbial keratitis following intracorneal ring implantation

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Corneal Surgery
• Infectious Eye Disease

Background:

• Intracorneal ring implantation is a surgical procedure to correct refractive errors.
• Keratitis, an inflammation of the cornea, can be a complication following such implants.
• Identifying risk factors and outcomes is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine predisposing factors for keratitis after intracorneal ring implantation.
• To analyze the clinical course and visual outcomes in affected patients.
• To compare outcomes with a control group undergoing uncomplicated surgery.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective case-control study involving 11 patients with keratitis and 71 controls.
• Slit-lamp examinations and corrected distance visual acuity measurements at multiple time points.
• Microbiological analysis of smears and cultures, with statistical analysis of risk factors.

Main Results:

• Keratitis incidence was 2.7% over two years, with Staphylococcus spp. being the most common pathogen.
• Horizontal intracorneal ring segment position was a significant predisposing factor (p = 0.001).
• Final visual acuity was 0.68 ± 0.35, with larger initial ulcer size correlating with poorer outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Horizontal ring position is the primary identified risk factor for post-implantation keratitis.
• Prompt diagnosis, antibiotic treatment, and intracorneal ring explantation are key to favorable visual outcomes.
• Advanced cases may necessitate corneal transplantation due to infectious complications.