Keratoconus progression after intrastromal corneal ring segment implantation in young patients: Five-year follow-up.

PURPOSE: To analyze whether implantation of intrastromal corneal ring segments (ICRS) influences the progression of keratoconus in young patients.

SETTING

Vissum Corporation, Alicante, Spain.

DESIGN

Retrospective case series.

METHODS

Eyes with confirmed progressive keratoconus and ICRS (Intacs or Keraring) were evaluated. The visual, refractive, topographic, and aberrometric outcomes were assessed at 2 preoperative examinations to confirm the progressive nature of each case. The postoperative follow-up was 5 years.

RESULTS

The study evaluated 18 eyes in 15 patients with a mean age of 25.75 years ± 3.59 (SD). All the visual, refractive, and topographic measurements worsened between the 2 preoperative examinations, confirming the progressive nature of the cases. Six months postoperatively, there was improvement in the uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuities (P > .05) and all refractive measurements (P < .05) and the mean keratometry (K) was reduced by 4.48 diopters (D) (P < .01). Immediately after the procedure, the visual and refractive variables improved but then worsened. From 6 months postoperatively to 5 years, the mean K value regressed 3.36 D.

CONCLUSION

Implantation of ICRS significantly improved the visual, refractive, and topographic parameters in the short term; however, the regression at 5 years suggests that implantation of ICRS does not significantly influence progressive keratoconus in young patients with confirmed progression of the disease.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.