Outcomes of Intrastromal Corneal Ring Implantation in Treatment of Keratoconus: Clinical Evaluation in Scheduled follow Up for 12 months among Iraqi Patients

Abstract

The introduction of Intrastromal corneal ring segment implantation (ICRS) in recent decades has led to considerable advancements in the treatment of keratoconus. In Iraq, there is a limited number of studies that investigated the outcomes of ICSR particularly those that followed patients for longer period with scheduled visits. The aim of this study is to fill the gap in the knowledge about the outcomes of ICSR as an option of treatment of keratoconus and to add important information to the growing evidence about this technique in Iraq. We included 44 patients with proved diagnosis of keratoconus, with a total of 52 affected eyes. Most patients were older than 30 years of age. Males were relatively dominant (56.8%). A significant visual improvement was observed at each subsequent assessment visits. We found an overall improvement rate of 75.9% in LogMAR UDVA, 77% in LogMAR CDVA, 76.7% in sphere and 73.3%cylinder. In conclusion, intrastromal corneal ring segment implantation is a safe and effective method for the treatment of keratoconus among Iraqi patients. Visual improvement was better in older patients and in those with advanced stages of the disease. Visual improvement after ICSR was not affected by gender or residence of the patients.