KeraRing Implantation with Femtosecond Laser in Keratoconus Treatment at Different Stages

Authors : Ayşem Gül Ulukartal, Nilgün Solmaz, Önder Feyza

Pages : 339-347

Doi:10.53446/actamednicomedia.1515016

View : 60 | Download : 76

Publication Date : 2024-10-27

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Objective: To investigate the reliability and effectiveness of femtosecond laser-assisted KeraRing (Mediphacos, Belo Horizonte, Brazil) implantation in treating keratoconus. Methods: Intrastromal corneal ring segments (KeraRing, Mediphacos, Brazil) were implanted in 15 eyes of 14 patients unable to tolerate contact lenses. Femtosecond laser (Intralase, 60 Hz) was used for corneal tunnel creation. Based on the distribution of ectatic area on the cornea, dual segments were implanted in 9 eyes, while single segments were implanted in 6 eyes. Preoperative and postoperative uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), objective and subjective refraction, and topographic corneal curvature (K) values of the cases were compared using the Wilcoxon test. Results: The mean age of patients was 25±7.46 (range: 15-39) years, with a mean postoperative follow-up period of 10.8±7.37 (range: 1-24 months). BCVA improved in all eyes during the follow-up period, increasing from a mean of 0.12±0.1 to 0.38±0.24 (p<0.001). BCVA increased in 12 eyes, with a mean of 0.40±0.15 to 0.55±0.23 (p=0.003), remained unchanged in 2 eyes, and decreased by 1 line in 1 eye. Subjective spherical refraction decreased from -3.02±3.8 to -1.43±2.7, and subjective cylindrical refraction decreased from -4.2±1.8 to -1.03±1.1 (p<0.005). Mean topographic astigmatism decreased from -5.03±2.0 D to -3.27±2.35 D (p=0.012), and mean K value decreased from 52.6±4.7 D to 50.35±4.4 D (p<0.005). During the postoperative period, no complications were observed except for a slight migration of ring segments within the tunnel in one case. Conclusion: Femtosecond laser-assisted intracorneal ring implantation is an effective and reliable method for visual outcomes in keratoconus.
Keywords : keraring, femtosaniye lazer, keratokonus