Intrastromal Corneal Ring Segments and Keratoconus Progression: A Case Series Study.

OBJECTIVE

To assess keratoconus (KC) progression following the implant of intrastromal corneal ring segments (ICRSs) in young patients.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Retrospective, longitudinal, observational, controlled nonrandomized case series study. Keratoconus patients aged 25 years or younger who underwent uneventful ICRS surgery and completed at least 3 years of follow-up were enrolled. Controls were of similar age and treatment-naive patients with KC. The following Pentacam imaging (Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany) data were analyzed: keratometric (maximum, in-flattest meridian, in-steepest meridian, and mean), aberrometric (higher-order aberrations and coma), pachymetric (thinnest corneal thickness), and elevation (maximum posterior elevation). The main outcome measure was KC progression.

RESULTS

The study sample comprised 20 eyes of 18 cases (age 20.20 ± 3.70 years, nine right eyes, 14 male patients) and 30 eyes of 24 controls (age 20.80 ± 3.20 years, 15 right eyes, 21 male patients). The mean follow-up duration was 4.90 ± 1.70 years (range 3-8 years) for cases and 4.50 ± 1.40 years (range 3-8 years) for controls. Four cases and two controls met criteria for KC progression.

CONCLUSIONS

Intrastromal corneal ring segments did not have significant impact on KC progression in the cohort.