Photorefractive keratectomy for the correction of residual refractive error with Intacs intrastromal corneal ring segments in place.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for residual refractive errors in patients who had previous insertion of intrastromal corneal ring segments (Intacs, Addition Technology, Inc.) for treatment of low myopia. SETTING: Shiley Eye Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA. METHODS: This retrospective case series comprised patients who had Intacs segment implantation and subsequently developed myopic regression. Eight eyes of 5 patients had PRK over the Intacs in situ for the correction of the residual refractive error. RESULTS: Six (75%) of the 8 eyes had plano refraction with 20/20 or better uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) 1 month after PRK enhancement. Three months postoperatively, all eyes had plano refraction with 20/20 or better acuity. At the last follow-up examination (up to 2 years), all eyes had near plano vision (20/10 to 20/25). The corneal surface epithelium in all eyes healed in 3 to 5 days. One patient had subepithelial haze in both eyes, which resolved with epithelial scraping with mitomycin-C (MMC) application and a phototherapeutic keratectomy enhancement. CONCLUSIONS: This small series showed that PRK can be used to treat residual refractive error after Intacs insertion. The UCVA was 20/25 or better in all cases after PRK enhancement. The incidence of post-PRK haze in this series of patients was high; topical MMC might be used in future cases to mitigate the problem.

The effect of cyclosporine A (Restasis) on recovery of visual acuity following LASIK.

PURPOSE: To compare the recovery of uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) following LASIK in patients treated with topical cyclosporine A 0.05% and patients treated with a standard postoperative regimen. METHODS: In this single-center, open-label, retrospective study, a standard refractive workup was performed in 45 patients (85 eyes) who underwent LASIK and did not have preexisting dry eye. In 36 eyes, a standard postoperative eye drop regimen was followed, and in 49 eyes, cyclosporine A 0.05% was added to the standard regimen for 12 weeks. Uncorrected visual acuity was measured 1 week and 1 and 3 months postoperatively. RESULTS: One week postoperatively, 22 (44.9%) eyes in the cyclosporine A group and 8 (22.2%) eyes in the standard treatment group had UCVA of 20/15. Cumulatively, 36 (73.5%) eyes in the cyclosporine A group and 24 (66.7%) eyes in the standard treatment group had UCVA of 20/20 or better. One month postoperatively, 37 (75.5%) in the cyclosporine A group and 23 (63.9%) eyes in the standard treatment group had UCVA of 20/20 or better. Three months postoperatively, 40 (81.6%) eyes in the cyclosporine A group and 25 (69.4%) eyes in the standard treatment group had UCVA of 20/20 or better. Mean UCVA in the cyclosporine A group showed statistically significant improvements compared with the standard treatment group. CONCLUSIONS: Cyclosporine A 0.05%, in the form of Restasis, may be an effective treatment for reducing the time needed for visual recovery after LASIK. Use of cyclosporine A was associated with overall better and faster recovery of UCVA.

New surgical approaches to the management of keratoconus and post-LASIK ectasia.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study is to describe the authors' results with intrastromal corneal ring segments (Intacs) and a new variation of lamellar keratoplasty, termed intralamellar keratoplasty (ILK), for the treatment of keratoconus (KCN) and post-laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) ectasia. METHODS: A retrospective review of contact lens-intolerant KCN and post-LASIK ectasia cases that had surgery with either Intacs or ILK was performed. The end points were mean uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), spherical equivalent (SE), manifest and topographic cylinder, and restoration of contact lens tolerance. RESULTS: Intacs were implanted in 13 keratoconic or post-LASIK ectasia eyes of 11 subjects. Mean UCVA improved by 1 line (range, -5 to +8); mean BCVA improved by 1 line (range, -1 to +4). Mean manifest SE was essentially unchanged. Mean manifest cylinder was reduced by 2.77 diopters (D), mean topographic cylinder was decreased by 2.29 D, and 12 of 13 eyes were successfully able to wear contact lenses. Four eyes with advanced KCN underwent ILK. Mean UCVA improved by 1 line (range, 0 to 12); mean BCVA improved by 4 lines (range, 1 to 10). Mean SE was lessened by 1.13 D. Mean manifest cylinder was reduced by 1.82 D and mean topographic cylinder by 1.14 D. Half the subjects were successfully fit with contact lenses. CONCLUSION: Both Intacs and ILK improved mean UCVA, BCVA, and manifest and topographic astigmatism. In most cases, good contact lens fit was achieved with visual rehabilitation to levels that obviated penetrating keratoplasty.