PURPOSE To evaluate the clinical outcomes of intrastromal corneal ring segment (ICRS) implantation to correct ectasia in eyes with prior refractive surgery. METHODS Forty-one eyes of 25 patients (13 men, 12 women; mean age, 28.66 years) with ectasia after refractive surgery [photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) or laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK)] were included in a nonrandomized, retrospect...

Corneal neovascularization (NV) not only reduces visual acuity, but it also causes loss of the cornea's immune privilege, strongly contributing to a worse prognosis in penetrating keratoplasty. Several mediators participate in corneal angiogenesis, and the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been extensively proven. Anti-VEGF agents have been shown to be effective in slowing t...

PURPOSE Thrombospondin (TSP)-1 and -2 are important antiangiogenic factors thought to be involved in maintaining corneal avascularity (angiogenic privilege). This study was undertaken to investigate whether deficiencies of these factors altered developmental and inflammation-induced angiogenesis in the cornea and developmental angiogenesis of the iris of mice. METHODS Expression of TSP-1 and ...

PURPOSE To quantify blood and lymph angiogenesis in mouse corneal flat mounts by means of a novel plug-in for ImageJ, called VesselJ, based on a dynamic threshold algorithm. METHODS Corneal neovascularization (CNV) was induced in the right corneas of 20 C57BL6/N mice by means of alkali burn (n = 10) or intrastromal sutures (n = 10). All corneal flat mounts were stained for blood vessels with ...

PURPOSE To assess the impact of intrastromal corneal ring segments (ICRS) as a surgical alternative to corneal grafting in patients with keratoconus who were scheduled for a corneal transplant. METHODS This single-surgeon, single-center, retrospective, observational case series study included 19 eyes of 18 patients (mean age, 23.36 ± 6.22 years) with a confirmed diagnosis of keratoconus. Thes...

INTRODUCTION Keratoconus is a noninflammatory cone-like ectasia of the cornea that can be managed by glasses, contact lenses, keratoplasty, crosslin king (CXL), and intrastromal corneal ring segment (ICRS) insertion, based on the stage of the disease and the patient’s symptoms. Despite being an evolutive disease, CXL has recently been utilized as a therapeutic option for stabilizing the cornea....

BACKGROUND To evaluate the 5-year results of Refractive Lenticule Extraction (ReLEx) as Small Incision Lenticule Extraction (SMILE) technique for treatment of myopia and myopic astigmatism. METHODS In 2008/2009, the worldwide first 91 eyes were treated using a novel surgical technique (SMILE), where a refractive lenticule of intrastromal corneal tissue is removed though a small incision compl...

PURPOSE To report the long-term follow-up of Ferrara intrastromal corneal ring segment (ICRS) implantation for the management of keratoconus. SETTING Private clinic, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. METHODS This study comprised patients with keratoconus who completed at least 5 years of follow-up. One or 2 ICRS were inserted in the cornea, embracing the keratoconus area. Statistical analysis include...

PURPOSE To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intrastromal corneal ring segment implantation using both mechanical and femtosecond-assisted tunnel creation for the treatment of patients with keratoconus. METHODS A retrospective noncomparative interventional study including 96 eyes of 75 patients with keratoconus. All patients had contact lens intolerance and clear central corneas. Corneal tu...

PURPOSE To investigate whether corneal graft survival could be improved by topical or subconjunctival bevacizumab in a murine model of vascularized high-risk corneal transplantation. METHODS Before corneal transplantation, intrastromal sutures were placed for 2 weeks in the corneas of BALB/c mice, inducing intense angiogenesis. Allogeneic corneal transplantation was performed using C57BL/6 do...