Astigmatism Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Astigmatism, including details on cornea, retina, treatment, types, signs, tests.

Sequential Intacs and Verisyse phakic intraocular lens for refractive improvement in keratoconic eyes.

El-Raggal TM, Abdel Fattah AA

Magrabi Eye Hospital, Ain Shams University, 2 Nakhla El-Moteae Street, Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt. telragal@hotmail.com

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety, efficacy, and stability of sequential Intacs (Addition Technology, Inc.) insertion and Verisyse phakic intraocular lens (pIOL) (AMO) implantation in selected cases of keratoconus. SETTING: Magrabi Eye Hospital, Cairo, Egypt. METHODS: Prospective data were collected from 8 eyes of 6 keratoconus patients with contact lens intolerance, clear corneas, a maximum K-value less than 60.0 diopters (D), and minimum corneal thickness greater than 400 mum. Two 0.45 mm Intacs were inserted through a 1.8 mm radial incision created at 70% of the corneal depth opposite the cone apex. The 2 rings were pushed to meet and embrace the cone apex. Refraction 6 months after Intacs insertion showed residual myopia greater than 6.0 D and residual astigmatism not more than 2.0 D. Thus, a phakic Verisyse IOL was implanted horizontally in the anterior chamber through a 6.5 mm superior clear corneal incision, which was closed with 3, 10-0 nylon sutures after a peripheral iridectomy was created. The uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), refraction, and topographic profiles were taken 1 week and 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months after the second surgery. RESULTS: All eyes achieved UCVA of 20/40 or better. The final spherical error ranged from -1.75 to +1.00 D and the cylindrical error, from 1.25 to 2.50 D. No eye lost lines of preoperative BCVA. These results were relatively stable throughout the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Sequential Intacs and a Verisyse pIOL implantation was safe, stable, and effective in selected cases of keratoconus. It is a reversible surgery that is less invasive than penetrating keratoplasty (PKP). It can avoid or postpone the need for PKP, although it is not an alternative.

Published 28 May 2007 in J Cataract Refract Surg, 33(6): 966-70.
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