visual outcome after implantation of intracorneal ring segments for pellucid marginal degeneration

purpose : to assess the results of intracorneal ring (icr) segments for treatment of patients with pellucid marginal degeneration (pmd) methods : in this prospective interventional case series study, eight eyes of 5 patients with pmd who were contact lens intolerant received one or two intacs (intacs, addition technology) segments. preoperative and postoperative evaluations included slit-lamp examination, uncorrected visual acuity (ucva) and best corrected visual acuity (bcva) and keratometry by pentacam scheimpflug camera (oculas opticigerate gmbh). patients were followed for 3 months and all parameters were reviewed at the end of follow-up time. results : three months postoperatively, ucva significantly improved from preoperative values after intacs implantation (mean 1.07±0.27 [sd] and 0.5±0.27 respectively). the bcva also improved from preoperative state compared to 3 months after surgery (mean 0.40 ± 31 and 0.18 ± 0.17 respectively). the bcva was 5/10 or more in all 8 eyes. spherical equivalent (se) and refractive cylinder decreased significantly compared to preoperative values (mean -9.40 ± 4.98 to -6.53 ± 5.00 and mean -6.93 ± 3.79 to -3.06 ± 2.07 respectively). topographic cylinder decreased postoperatively, but this decrement was not statistically significant (mean -5.42 ± 3.47 [sd] to -5.08 ± 3.20). conclusion : in our series of patients, icr implantation proved to be a safe and effective method for correction of pmd and improving the vision in these patients.    iranian journal of ophthalmology 201022(1):41-45 © 2010 by the iranian society of ophthalmology