Keratopigmentation: Is it a Miracle or an Adventure?

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Corneal Surgery
• Ocular Aesthetics

Background:

• Patients with severe corneal opacification or visual impairment often face limited cosmetic and functional options.
• Traditional treatments may be invasive or unsuitable for individuals intolerant to prosthetic contact lenses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the cosmetic and functional outcomes of patients undergoing keratopigmentation (KTP).
• To evaluate patient satisfaction, pigment stability, and surgical complications associated with KTP.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 16 eyes from 16 patients who underwent manual intrastromal and superficial keratopigmentation under general anesthesia.
• Inclusion criteria focused on patients with severe visual impairment (no or only light perception) and corneal opacification.
• Outcomes assessed included patient satisfaction, cosmetic results, pigment stabilization, and complications using a 0-5 grading system.

Main Results:

• High postoperative patient satisfaction reported, with a mean score of 4.18 out of 5.
• Minor pigment loss occurred in some cases, requiring superficial KTP re-pigmentation in 2 patients; overall cosmetic results were satisfactory.
• The procedure demonstrated a favorable safety profile with minimal complications, including one instance of pigment leakage.

Conclusions:

• Keratopigmentation is a safe, easily learned, and cost-effective surgical technique.
• KTP provides significant therapeutic and cosmetic benefits, potentially impacting future ophthalmic surgical practices.
• It serves as a valuable alternative to more invasive reconstructive ocular procedures.