Clinical Ophthalmology (Sep 2022)
Continuous Intracorneal Ring Implantation in Keratoconus: Efficacy, Predictive Factors, and Complications
Abstract
David Thiwa,1 Stephan Johannes Linke,1,2 Albert Daxer,3,4 Johannes Steinberg1,2 1University Medical Center Hamburg (UKE), Department of Ophthalmology, Hamburg, Germany; 2Zentrumsehstärke – Augenarztpraxis am UKE, Hamburg, Germany; 3International Keratoconus Center, Wels, Austria; 4Medical University of Innsbruck, Department of Ophthalmology, Innsbruck, AustriaCorrespondence: David Thiwa, University Medical Center Hamburg (UKE), Department of Ophthalmology, Martinistr. 52, Hamburg, 20246, Germany, Tel +49 157 3062 3524, Fax +49 40 429 160 64, Email [email protected]: To examine the clinical outcomes, predictors of visual improvement and complications of continuous intracorneal ring (ICCR) implantation in patients with keratoconus and confirmed contact-lens intolerance (CLI).Methods: This nonrandomized, multi-centric, retrospective cohort study examined visual, keratometric and clinical outcomes evaluated after a minimum follow-up of 2 months. Among the inclusion criteria for the standard treatment group (STG) were corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) 350μm, and central mean keratometry reading (meanK) 55 diopters gained 9.04± 4.83 lines in UDVA and 2.86± 3.09 lines in CDVA. However, postoperatively these eyes had a CDVA of 0.32± 0.21 logMAR which is significantly inferior to the STG outcome (p=0.001372). Fifteen eyes (12.7%) had to undergo a ring exchange procedure because of refractive under- (9 eyes) or overcorrection (6 eyes). Two eyes (1.7%) experienced medical complications.Conclusion: This study confirms the inclusion criteria of ICCR implantation in KC eyes with CDVA 20/30.Keywords: keratoconus, MyoRing, continuous intracorneal ring, intracorneal continuous ring
