Preimplantation dehydration for corneal allogenic intrastromal ring segment implantation

Corneal allogenic intrastromal ring segments (CAIRS) are semicircular pieces of donor corneal stroma, which may be surgically implanted to flatten keratoconic corneas. These segments can be trimmed to different thicknesses; whereas thicker segments confer greater flattening, their bulk renders them more technically challenging to insert. Consequently, thinner segments are often preferred, especially for starting surgeons. Here, we describe a technique for transiently thinning CAIRS to facilitate easy insertion, thereby permitting the use of thicker segments to achieve the maximal flattening effect.

Automated summary

CAIRS are semicircular pieces of donor corneal stroma that can be surgically implanted to flatten keratoconic corneas. Thinning CAIRS temporarily allows for easier insertion and the use of thicker segments for maximal flattening effect.