Visual And Topographic Clinical Outcomes Of Corneal Allogenic Intrastromal Ring Segment Implantation In Keratoconus
Published 2026 - 44th Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: POCOR371 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/44wa-dx62
Authors: Dr Richard Mcneely 1 , Prof. Johnny Moore 1 , Mr Stephen Stewat 1 , Mr Niraj Mandal* 1 , Mr Mark Lane 2 , Dr Priyanka Mandal 3 , Dr Beatrrice Cesaro 1
1Cathedral Eye Clinic,Belfast,United Kingdom, 2Midland Eye,Birmingham,United Kingdom, 3University Hospital Birmingham,Birmingham,United Kingdom
Purpose
To outline the visual and topographic outcomes following corneal allogenic intrastromal ring segment (CAIRS) implantation in keratoconus up to 1 year post surgery.
Setting
Cathedral Eye Clinic, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
Methods
In this retrospective analysis eyes implanted with CAIRS (KeraNatural) after tunnel creation with a femtosecond laser (VisuMax, Carl Zeiss) were included. Refraction, uncorrected (UDVA) and best-corrected (CDVA) distance visual acuities, spherical equivalent (SE), keratometry, coma higher order aberration, were evaluated 3 and 12 months postoperatively.
Results
28 eyes with keratoconus of 27 patients (mean age of 32±9.10 years) were included. Three eyes had previous topoguided laser vision combined with cross-linking (CXL), and one eye had previous CXL. Sixteen eyes had 12 months assessment. Preoperative CDVA was 0.49±0.27logMAR, improving to 0.33±0.23 logMAR at 3 months and 0.31±0.20 at 12 months. A significant reduction in SE was observed. Preoperative SE was -3.50±5.09D compared to -0.24±2.22D and -0.67±2.41D at 3 (P=0.001) and 12 months (P=0.04). Preoperative K1 was 51.54±10.08 D and K2 was 57.92±12.62 D which significantly reduced to 42.32±11.02D (P<0.001) and 48.41±10.33 (P=0.002) at 12 months. Mean coma aberration was 3.35±2.72um at 12 months compared to 4.03±2.60um preoperatively.
Conclusions
This study suggests that CAIRS implantation provides an improvement in CDVA and keratometric values at 3 months and at a longer term follow of 12 months. Close postoperative monitoring is required to determine if further intervention is required in the early postoperative period. Further data and assessment of the impact of CAIRS upon the corneal epithelium will be presented at the conference.