Objective Visual Improvement Correlates With Early Patient-Reported Benefit After Intrastromal Corneal Ring Segment Implantation In Keratoconus: A Prospective Pilot Study
Published 2026 - 44th Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: POCOR336 | Type: Poster | DOI: 10.82333/9vv0-7v80
Authors: Ms Leticia Cardoso Lucena* 1 , Mrs Larissa Cardoso Lucena Arguelio 2 , Mr Luciano Rabello Netto Cirillo 1 , Mr Alexandre Arguelio Souto 1 , Mr Marcelo Mastromonico Lui 1 , Gabriel Henrique Roewer 1
1HOSPITAL DE OLHOS CRO ,Guarulhos ,Brazil, 2HOSPITAL DE OLHOS CRO,Guarulhos ,Brazil
Purpose
To evaluate early changes in vision-related quality of life (VR-QoL) after intrastromal corneal ring segment (ICRS) implantation in keratoconus using combined disease-specific (KORQ) and generic (NEI VFQ-25, SF-36) instruments, and to correlate patient-reported outcomes with changes in corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) and maximum keratometry (Kmax) at 1 month.
Setting
Prospective longitudinal interventional study conducted at a tertiary ophthalmology referral center in Brazil.
Methods
Seven eyes of seven keratoconus patients underwent ICRS implantation. KORQ, NEI VFQ-25, and SF-36 were administered preoperatively and at 1 month. Questionnaire responses were converted to normalized numerical scores (0–3 scale). CDVA was converted to logMAR. Kmax was obtained from corneal tomography. Paired comparisons were performed using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Primary endpoint was 1-month VR-QoL change.
Results
Mean age was 34.4±9.8 years.
Mean Kmax decreased from 58.16±4.39 D to 55.33±5.05 D (Δ −2.83 D; p=0.109).
Mean CDVA improved from 0.397±0.187 to 0.207±0.197 logMAR (Δ −0.19 logMAR; p=0.026).
Mean total VR-QoL score decreased from 1.27±0.30 to 0.63±0.55 (Δ −0.64; p=0.25), demonstrating consistent reduction in visual interference across functional domains. No patient experienced visual loss.
Conclusions
ICRS implantation resulted in statistically significant improvement in visual acuity and consistent early enhancement of patient-reported visual function at 1 month. Although questionnaire score changes did not reach statistical significance in this pilot cohort, the magnitude and direction of effect suggest clinically meaningful improvement. Combined use of disease-specific and generic VR-QoL instruments provides a comprehensive framework for outcome assessment in keratoconus surgery. Ongoing 3- and 6-month follow-up will determine durability of these effects.