Intrastromal corneal ring segment implantation (keraring 355°) in patients with central keratoconus: 6-month follow-up

We evaluate the efficacy and safety of keraring 355° intrastromal corneal ring segment (icrs) implantation aided by pocketmaker microkeratome for the correction of keratoconus. patients underwent icrs insertion using mechanical dissection with pocketmaker microkeratome and completed 6 months of follow-up. uncorrected visual acuity (ucva),best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (bscva),refraction,topographic findings,safety,efficacy index,and adverse events were reported for six months postoperatively. we evaluated 15 eyes of 15 patients (12 men) with a mean age of 28.87 ± 6.94 years (range 21-49 years). at final postoperative examination,there was a statistically significant reduction in the spherical equivalent refractive error compared to preoperative measurements (-5.46 ± 1.52 to -2.01 ± 1.63 d,p < 0.001). mean preoperative ucva (logmar) before implantation was 0.79 ± 0.48,and postoperative ucva was 0.28 ± 0.15,p = 0.001. mean preoperative bscva (logmar) before implantation was 0.36 ± 0.21; at final follow-up examination bscva was 0.18 ± 0.9,p = 0.009. mean k decreased from 48.33 to 43.31 d,p < 0.001. all patients were satisfied with icrs implantation; 86.7% were moderately to very happy with the results. no intraoperative or postoperative complications were demonstrated. this preliminary study shows that icrs (keraring 355°) implantation is an efficient,cost-effective,and minimally invasive procedure for improving visual acuity in nipple type keratoconic corneas. © 2015 khosrow jadidi et al.