Corneal collagen cross-linking before Ferrara intrastromal corneal ring implantation for the treatment of progressive keratoconus.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety, efficacy, and stability of sequential corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) and Ferrara intrastromal corneal ring segment (FR) implantation in selected patients with progressive keratoconus.

METHODS

This prospective study involved 9 eyes with progressive keratoconus and a preoperative cylinder value equal to or greater than 5 diopters (D) diagnosed between June 2007 and October 2008. Preoperative and postoperative (6 months after the CXL procedure and 6 months after the FR implantation) biomicroscopy examinations, distance uncorrected and best-corrected visual acuities, refractive error, and topographic maps were evaluated and compared.

RESULTS

Mean uncorrected visual acuity was 1.11 logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) preoperatively and 0.75 logMAR at 6 months after CXL (P = 0.03) and 0.23 logMAR at 6 months after FR implantation (P < 0.001). Mean best-corrected visual acuity was 0.26 logMAR preoperatively and 0.24 logMAR at 6 months after CXL (P = 0.87) and 0.12 logMAR at 6 months after FR (P = 0.05). Statistically significant reductions in the mean spherical equivalent (4.38 D; P < 0.001) and mean maximum (5.58 D; P < 0.001) and minimum (4.17 D; P < 0.001) keratometry values were present at 6 months after FR.

CONCLUSIONS

FR implantation after CXL is a safe and efficacious treatment option for managing selected patients with progressive keratoconus. Good results in terms of visual acuity, postoperative residual refractive error, and keratometry values were obtained. Longer follow-up would be valuable to confirm the stability of these results.