Asymmetric All-Femtosecond Laser-Cut Corneal Allogenic Intrastromal Ring Segments

J Refract Surg. 2023 Dec;39(12):856-862. doi: 10.3928/1081597X-20231018-04. Epub 2023 Dec 1.

Abstract

Purpose: To describe a novel technique for cutting asymmetric allogenic segments using the femtosecond laser for the management of cases of keratoconus with non-coinciding astigmatism and coma axes.

Methods: Four eyes of 2 patients with irregular keratoconus and asymmetric allogenic segments were included. Visual, refractive, tomographic, and aberrometric outcomes, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) sections were measured preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively. Evaluations included slit-lamp examination, manifest refraction, uncorrected (UDVA) and corrected (CDVA) distance visual acuity, and simulated and maximum anterior keratometry (Kmax) using anterior segment OCT.

Results: Spherical and cylindrical refractive errors decreased from -2.38 ± 2.96 and -2.94 ± 2.16 to -1.81 ± 2.77 (P = .04) and -1.75 ± 2.07 (P = .01) diopters (D), respectively, 6 months postoperatively. There was an average gain of three lines of CDVA. Kmax decreased from 50.02 ± 1.99 to 47.89 ± 3.05 D (P= .03) and coma from 1.05 ± 0.21 to 0.21 ± 0.19 D (P = .01).

Conclusions: Asymmetric femtosecond laser-cut allogenic segments allow a higher level of customization based on size, shape, and arc length, in contrast to the limited range of available synthetic asymmetrical segments. [J Refract Surg. 2023;39(12):856-862.].

MeSH terms

  • Coma / surgery
  • Corneal Stroma / surgery
  • Corneal Topography
  • Humans
  • Keratoconus* / surgery
  • Lasers
  • Prostheses and Implants
  • Prosthesis Implantation*
  • Refraction, Ocular
  • Retrospective Studies