Intracorneal ring implantation using Intralase^® with partial coverage of the cone in a patient after an alkaline injury

Hanefi Cakir¹, Canan Asli Utine², Mehmet Baykara^3
1Turkiye Hospital Eye Clinic, Istanbul, ²Department of Ophthalmology, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, ³Department of Ophthalmology, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey

Purpose: To report the use of intracorneal ring segment (ICRS) implantation in a case of severe corneal thinning and irregularity secondary to alkali burn.
Case report: A 33-year-old man who had a history of ocular alkali burn in the right eye was admitted. His best corrected visual acuity was 0.16 with manifest refraction of +5.00 (-7.00 × 180°). Orbscan II^® revealed steepening of >53 D superiorly, excessive thinning inferiorly with thinnest pachymetric reading of 269 µm. Two KeraRing^® segments, 200 µm thick and 90° arced, were implanted. During intrastromal channel creation by Intralase^®, the inferior half of the applanating cone was covered by a gelatinous paper to prevent the penetration of the laser beam into the anterior chamber. In the first year postoperation, best corrected visual acuity was 0.7 with manifest refraction of +1.50 (-3.50 × 35°). Visante^® opticial coherence tomography displayed ICRS at a depth of ~370 µm.
Conclusion: ICRS implantation with this novel approach may be an option in eyes with severe corneal irregularity and thinning.

Keywords: alkali burn, ectasia, intrastromal corneal ring segments