Intracorneal Ring Segment Implantation for the Management of Keratoconus in Children

• Published in: Vision (Basel) Vol. 5; no. 1; p. 1
• Main Authors: Larco, Pablo, Larco, Jr, Pablo, Torres, Daniel, Piñero, David P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI 23-12-2020; MDPI AG
• Subjects: corneal aberrations; intracorneal ring segments; intrastromal ring segments; Keraring; keratoconus; intrastromal ring segments; corneal aberrations; keratoconus; Keraring; intracorneal ring segments
• ISSN: 2411-5150; 2411-5150
• DOI: 10.3390/vision5010001

The short-term safety and efficacy of intracorneal ring segment (ICRS) implantation in keratoconus eyes of children are investigated in this study. A retrospective interventional case series study including a total of 33 keratoconus eyes (age 8 to 17 years) that had undergone ICRS (Keraring segments, Mediphacos) implantation was conducted. Information about visual, refractive, pachymetric, corneal topographic and aberrometric, and corneal endothelial changes during a 3-month follow-up were extracted and analysed. A significant improvement was observed in logMAR corrected distance visual acuity (
= 0.005), combined with a statistically significant reduction in keratometric readings (
< 0.001). A reduction in the magnitude of corneal astigmatism of ≥1 D was observed in 52.8% of eyes. No significant changes were observed in corneal endothelial density (
= 0.317). Significant changes were found in the anterior vertical coma component (
= 0.002) as well as in the spherical aberration of the posterior corneal surface (
= 0.004). Only two relevant complications were described: one corneal microperforation with penetration of the ring segment into the anterior chamber (1 eye, 2.8%), and a case of ring extrusion (1 eye, 2.8%). ICRS implantation in children keratoconus eyes allows a reduction of corneal astigmatism, irregularity, and aberrations, leading to a significant visual improvement.