Intracorneal Ring Segment Implantation for the Management of Keratoconus in Children

The short-term safety and efficacy of intracorneal ring segment (ICRS) implantation in keratoconus eyes of children are investigated in this study. A retrospective interventional case series study including a total of 33 keratoconus eyes (age 8 to 17 years) that had undergone ICRS (Keraring segments, Mediphacos) implantation was conducted. Information about visual, refractive, pachymetric, corneal topographic and aberrometric, and corneal endothelial changes during a 3-month follow-up were extracted and analysed. A significant improvement was observed in logMAR corrected distance visual acuity (p = 0.005), combined with a statistically significant reduction in keratometric readings (p < 0.001). A reduction in the magnitude of corneal astigmatism of ≥1 D was observed in 52.8% of eyes. No significant changes were observed in corneal endothelial density (p = 0.317). Significant changes were found in the anterior vertical coma component (p = 0.002) as well as in the spherical aberration of the posterior corneal surface (p = 0.004). Only two relevant complications were described: one corneal microperforation with penetration of the ring segment into the anterior chamber (1 eye, 2.8%), and a case of ring extrusion (1 eye, 2.8%). ICRS implantation in children keratoconus eyes allows a reduction of corneal astigmatism, irregularity, and aberrations, leading to a significant visual improvement.