Outcomes of a Single-Segment Intrastromal Corneal Ring in Early Keratoconus and Early Pellucid Marginal Degeneration

Purpose To determine the effect of a single-segment intrastromal corneal ring segment (ICRS; Intacs SK) on early keratoconus (KCN) and pellucid marginal degeneration (PMD). Methods It is a prospective interventional study. One hundred twenty-four eyes (99 patients) with KCN and 36 eyes (26 patients) with PMD at early stage (the maximum keratometric reading less than 55 diopters) were included to ICRS implantation using femtosecond laser at a tertiary university-based hospital and a private outpatient center. The uncorrected distance and spectacle-corrected visual acuity (UDVA and SCDVA), manifest spherical and cylindrical refractions, and keratometry indices were measured preoperatively and postoperatively, 1 week, 2 and 6 months. Results One week after surgery, significant improvements were observed in UDVA, SCDVA, cylinder and keratometry readings of both KCN and PMD groups (all P < 0.05) with no significant changes afterward. No significant change occurred in the sphere refraction of PMD group (P = 0.10) in contrast to KCN group (P < 0.001). Corneal irregularity of KCN group in central 3 and 5 mm zones increased at 1 week (both P < 0.001) and then started to decrease up to 6 months. However, the corneal irregularity of PMD group had significant reduction only at 1 week in 5-mm zone (P = 0.02) and 2 months in 3-mm zone (P = 0.01) postoperatively. The final efficacy indexes were 1.44 +/- 0.71 and 0.87 +/- 0.40 in KCN and PMD groups, respectively. Conclusion Visual acuity, refractive errors and keratometry values have been improved after one-segment Intacs SK implantation in early KCN and PMD patients.

Automated summary

The study found that a single-segment intrastromal corneal ring segment implantation can improve visual acuity, refractive errors, and keratometry values in patients with early keratoconus and pellucid marginal degeneration.