Implantation of new intracorneal ring segments after segment explantation for unsuccessful outcomes in eyes with keratoconus.

Objective: To evaluate the visual, refractive, and corneal aberrometric outcomes in eyes with keratoconus that had implantation of new intracorneal ring segment (ICRS) after previous segment explantation for an unsuccessful outcome. Methods: Vissum Corporation, Alicante, Spain. Methods: This retrospective nonrandomized case series included consecutive eyes of patients ranging in age from 18 to 64 years. All cases had an initial diagnosis of keratoconus and had ICRS implantation to manage corneal irregularity. In all cases, the initial ICRS were explanted because of an unsuccessful outcome (eg, segment extrusion, poor visual outcomes) and a new ICRS combination was implanted subsequently. A complete ophthalmic examination was performed in all eyes before and 1 month after initial ICRS implantation, before ICRS explantation, and 1 month and 6 months after implantation of the new ICRS. Results: Twenty-one eyes (21 patients) were evaluated. There was a significant improvement in uncorrected distance visual acuity (P = .03) and thus a significant improvement in manifest refraction 1 month after implantation of the new ICRS (P/=.07). Conclusions: Significant visual and refractive improvements were achieved by implanting a new ICRS combination after previous unsuccessful ICRS implantation.

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