Visual acuity improvements maintained long term after three-step procedure for keratoconus

Patients with moderate to severe keratoconus who underwent a three-step procedure maintained visual acuity improvements at 2 years, according to a study.

Researchers evaluated the 6-month and 2-year vision and safety outcomes of 16 eyes of 13 patients with moderate to severe keratoconus. All patients underwent a three-step procedure involving intracorneal ring segment insertion, cross-linking and implantation of a Visian toric ICL (STAAR Surgical).

Refractive, vison and topographic values of the eyes were compared with baseline values at 6 months and 2 years after the procedure.

Corrected distance visual acuity showed significant improvement after the first two steps of the procedure, from 0.42 logMAR at baseline to 0.26 logMAR at 6 months (P = .002), but there was no significant improvement after ICL implantation. Uncorrected distance visual acuity after the first two steps improved from 1.06 logMAR at baseline to 0.76 logMAR at 6 months (P = .004), with further improvement after ICL implantation to 0.33 logMAR.

“The final outcome was a mean CDVA of 20/30+ compared to 20/60 at baseline and a UDVA of 20/40+ compared to 20/250+ at baseline with no occurrence of complications during procedures and in the follow-up,” the researchers wrote.

The visual acuity improvements were maintained through the 2-year follow-up. Additionally, the procedure showed no long-term complications at 2 years. – by Robert Linnehan

Disclosures: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.

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Source:

Abdelmassih Y, et al. J Refract Surg. 2017;doi:10.3928/1081597X-20170621-02.