Complications of Small Aperture Intracorneal Inlays: A Literature Review

Presbyopia can be defined as the refractive state of the eye in which, due to a physiological decrease in the ability to accommodate, it is not possible to sustain vision without fatigue in a prolonged manner, along with difficulty focusing near vision. It is estimated that its prevalence in 2030 will be approximately 2.1 billion people. Corneal inlays are an alternative in the correction of presbyopia. They are implanted beneath a laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) flap or in a pocket in the center of the cornea of the non-dominant eye. The purpose of this review is to provide information about intraoperative and postoperative KAMRA inlay complications in the available scientific literature. A search was conducted on PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus with the following search strategy: (KAMRA inlay OR KAMRA OR corneal inlay pinhole OR pinhole effect intracorneal OR SAICI OR small aperture intracorneal inlay) AND (complication OR explantation OR explanted OR retired). The bibliography consulted shows that the insertion of a KAMRA inlay is an effective procedure that improves near vision with a slight decrease in distance vision. However, postoperative complications such as corneal fibrosis, epithelial iron deposits, and stromal haze are described.

Automated summary

Presbyopia is a condition where the eye's ability to focus on near objects decreases, leading to difficulty in sustaining clear vision. It is estimated that by 2030, around 2.1 billion people will be affected by presbyopia. Corneal inlays are a potential solution for correcting presbyopia, involving the implantation of a small device beneath the cornea. However, postoperative complications such as corneal fibrosis, epithelial iron deposits, and stromal haze have been reported.