Keraring Implant With The Femtosecond Laser
A Keraring implant with the femtosecond laser can stall this progressive protuberance of the cornea. Generally, the implants stabilize the cornea and thereby also stabilize the vision. An improved adaptation of glasses or contact lenses is thus possible.
Are you suffering from keratoconus and are you considering a long-term solution? We will provide you with an overview of the clinical picture and the suitable treatment method.
What is Keratoconus?
The word Keratoconus derives from two Greek words: “kerato”, which means cornea, and “conus”, which means cone. Keratoconus is a genetically inherited disease that effects the normal form of the corneal shape, causing it obtain a cone-like shape–the reason for the reduced vision.
The Keraring is mostly implemented when the disease has reached its advanced stages and contact lenses have become intolerable, or the corneal shape too irregular. The Keraring can stall this progressive curving of the cornea, and thereby indefinitely postpone the need for a corneal transplantation.
Treating Keratoconus:
- Glasses: in the early stages
- Hard contact lenses: when glasses are no longer sufficient
- Implantation of corneal rings: when contact lenses have become intolerable, or the protuberance is increasing
- Crosslinking: to stop the progression of corneal protrusion
- Corneal transplant: In the final stages (carried out in the laser eye clinic in Munich): A LASIK surgery to improve the vision is not possible in this case.
Excimer laser
With the excimer laser, the cornea is ablated to a certain thickness with the excimer laser – on the basis of the measured values at the preliminary eye examination. The refractive power of the cornea is thereby changed, so that incoming light rays now bundle correctly on the retina – a sharp visual image is created.
Finally
Finally the corneal epithelium is pushed back and the cornea is covered with a protective contact lens. The first 3 to 5 days the contact lens protects the epithelium that has yet to heal, and is then removed. It may take two to three months until the stability of vision is attained.
Step 1
First, a tunnel is prepared for the ring to be inserted into. EuroEyes uses the femtosecond laser for this–just like in the Femto LASIK treatment–which makes the most precise incisions within 6 seconds.
Step 2
The ring is then inserted carefully into this tunnel, and carefully positioned.
Step 3
The rings “tighten” the corneal cone and thereby create a more regular corneal surface.
Keraring Treatment Process
1. Personal, Non-binding Consultation
- All relevant eye parameters are measured
- Examine your eyes to make sure you are a suitable candidate for the Keraring treatment
2. A Thorough Medical Preliminary Examination
- The examination usually lasts about two hours
- Intensive ophthalmic preliminary examination and measurement of your eyes
- Our specialists in ophthalmology will explain every detail about the treatment
- Before this preliminary examination you should not have worn soft contact lenses for one week and hard contact lenses for two weeks
- Please note that after the examination you will not be safe driving a vehicle–neither car, nor motorcycle or bicycle. We therefore recommend that you take a cab or public transportation
- At the examination you will receive an after-care set for the days after your treatment. The medication and content will be explained in detail by our staff
3. On the Day of Your Keraring Treatment
- We recommend that you wear comfortable clothes on the day of treatment
- You can eat and drink normally on the treatment day, but please do not smoke
- For hygiene reasons, it is also important that you wash your face thoroughly prior to treatment, completely remove makeup, and avoid perfume
- Anesthetic eye drops
- Outpatient surgery, no bandage, and sunglasses are recommended
- The total duration of the surgery (one eye): approximately 10-15 minutes
- You are not allowed to drive a vehicle after the procedure
4. After the Keraring Surgery
- The eye can be a little red–please do not rub your eyes
- How and when to use the antibiotic eye drops, the combination product that has a preventive effect against swelling and inflammation, and the pain-relieving eye drops will be discussed with your doctor beforehand
- Return to work after 2 days
- Resume sports activities after approximately 3 days, swimming and sauna after approximately 2 weeks
- Post-operative follow-up examinations: after 1 day – 1 week – 1 month
- You may drive a vehicle again only with the doctor’s permission, normally after the 1 week post-operative examination
PRK/LASEK treatment process
1. Personal, Non-binding Consultation:
- All relevant eye parameters are measured.
- We determine what the best method of treatment is for your eyes
- Examine your eyes to make sure you are a suitable candidate for the treatment
2. A Thorough Medical Preliminary Examination
- The examination usually lasts about two hours
- Intensive ophthalmic preliminary examination and measurement of your eyes
- Our specialists in ophthalmology will explain every detail about the treatment
- Before this preliminary examination you should not have worn soft contact lenses for one week and hard contact lenses for two weeks
- Please note that after the examination you will not be safe driving a vehicle: neither car, nor motorcycle or bicycle. We therefore recommend that you take a cab or public transportation
- Following the examination you will receive an after-care set for the days after your treatment. The medication and content will be explained in detail by our staff
3. On the day of your PRK/LASEK treatment
- We recommend that you wear comfortable clothing on the day of treatment.
- You can eat and drink regularly on the day of treatment, please do not smoke.
- For reasons of hygiene, it is important that you wash your face thoroughly before the treatment, completely remove make-up and do without perfume.
- Drop anesthesia is used
- Outpatient procedure, no eye bandage, sunglasses recommended
- Total duration of surgery (both eyes): approx. 25 min.
- You are not allowed to drive a vehicle after the treatment
4. After PRK/LASEK operation
- Please don’t rub your eyes.
- The doctor will explain the administration of the artificial tear use, the combination of eye drops that prevents swelling and inflammation, and pain-killing drops to you in advance.
- Professional activity after 1-2 weeks
- Sports activities, as well as swimming and sauna after approx. 2 weeks.
- Controls: two days, four days, one week, two weeks, one month, two months and three months after surgery
- Driving is only permitted again with the doctor’s permission.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Keraring?
A keraring is an artificial ring, which consists of two semicircular segments at 5 mm in diameter and of variable thickness. The ring is made out of artificial material, Perspex CQ Acrylic, which is the same material used for 25 years for artificial lens implants in cataract and refractive lens exchange surgeries. The keraring is tolerated so well by the cornea that no risk of rejection exists. The main reason for the surgery is the improvement of visual acuity. Kerarings can stall the progression of keratoconus and thus delay the cornea transplant indefinitely. Once the Keraring is in place a crosslinking is performed to stabilize the cornea.
When is the Keraring used?
1. Moderate to high nearsightedness
2. Severe astigmatism
3. Irregular astigmatism
How is the surgery performed?
First, the visual axis is marked on the cornea, then a tunnel is prepared using the femtosecond laser. The femtosecond laser places the incisions very precisely in 6 seconds. The rings are inserted into the tunnel, and subsequently, a bandage contact lens is applied.
What are the risks of this surgery?
The risk of complication is very low. However, as with any other surgery, an infection may occur. Complications are generally not severe, but if they do occur, the kerarings must be removed. This is also necessary if the rings extrudes out of the tunnel. Despite a surgery, a corneal transplant may become necessary. The keraring is not a replacement of the corneal transplant.
English 
Chinese