Using intacs corneal implants to treat ectasia after radial keratotomy
Ectasia after refractive surgery is a major concern for many ophthalmologists. Radial keratotomy (RK) was a popular refractive surgical procedure that used 4 or more deep radial incisions to treat myopia. Although many patients did well after RK, some experienced progressive hyperopia with ectasia even years after the surgery. A recently developed procedure combines Intacs corneal ring segments with interrupted sutures to close the gaping RK incisions and to provide structural support to the unstable cornea. First, an IntraLase femtosecond laser is used to make a pocket for Intacs corneal ring segments. After the Intacs corneal ring segments are inserted, each RK incision is reapproximated with two 10-0 nylon sutures, one on each side of the Intacs corneal ring segment. © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
