The Effect of Intracorneal Ring Segments Implantation for Keratoconus on In Vivo Corneal Biomechanics Assessed With the Corvis ST.

Abstract

To evaluate the effect of the implantation of intracorneal ring segments (ICRS) in keratoconus on the dynamic corneal response (DCR) parameters obtained with the Corvis ST (Oculus Optikgeräte GmbH). This prospective clinical study included patients who underwent ICRS implantation for keratoconus over a period of 1 year. On the day of the surgery and at least 1 month after ICRS implantation, the following measurements were made: corrected and uncorrected distance visual acuity, corneal tomography indices with the Pentacam (Oculus Optikgeräte GmbH), biomechanically corrected intraocular pressure (bIOP), Corvis ST DCR parameters, integrated inverse concave radius (1/R), deformation amplitude ratio (DA ratio), stiffness parameter at first applanation (SP-A1), stress-strain index (SSI), and highest concavity radius (HRC). Fifty-one eyes of 40 patients were included with a median follow-up time of 3 months (interquartile ratio [IQR]: 2 to 6 months). Statistical analysis showed that ICRS implantation did not affect corneal biomechanical measurements evaluated with the Corvis ST, which was demonstrated by non-significant changes in the SP-A1 (P = .637), 1/R (P = .647), HRC (P = .177), DA ratio (P = .735), and SSI (P = .501). Additionally, the results showed that bIOP measurements were not significantly affected by ICRS implantation (P = .113). ICRS implantation does not affect corneal biomechanical measurements in early follow-up. [J Refract Surg. 2022;38(4):264-269.].