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Pocket Versus Tunnel ICRS for Treatment of Keratoconus

Pocket Versus Tunnel Intrastromal Corneal Ring Segment Implantation (KeraRing) for the Management of Central Keratoconus

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05748847
Enrollment
74
Registered
2023-03-01
Start date
2019-06-01
Completion date
2023-04-15
Last updated
2024-10-31

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Keratoconus

Keywords

Keratoconus, Femtosecond laser-assisted ICRS, Central keratoconus, KeraRing

Brief summary

Keratoconus is a corneal degenerative disease associated with loss of best-corrected visual acuity. The use of intrastromal corneal ring segment implants is indicated to regularize the cornea and to reduce aberrations.

Detailed description

Keratoconus is a corneal degenerative disease characterized by corneal thinning and subsequent development of irregular astigmatism, diminution of vision and loss of best-corrected visual acuity. Management of keratoconus includes halting disease progression through a corneal strengthening procedure called corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) which usually results in stabilizing the condition but with no improvement in visual acuity or quality. Intrastromal corneal ring segment (ICRS) implantation is a well-established procedure for the management of moderate keratoconus with a corneal flattening effect that is associated with improvement of visual acuity and reduction of optical aberrations. The aim of the study is to evaluate and compare the visual, refractive and topographic outcomes of two different femtosecond laser assisted surgical techniques to create a corneal stromal pocket or a tunnel for implantation of ICRS for the management of central keratoconus

Interventions

PROCEDUREIntrastromal corneal ring segment implantation (Pocket)

Patients in this group are planned to undergo ICRS implantation through a femtosecond laser-assisted pocket creation. The device creates an intrastromal corneal pocket of 8-mm diameter and a depth of nearly 80% of the corneal thickness at the thinnest location with a superior tunnel incision at 90° of 5-mm width.

PROCEDUREIntrastromal corneal ring segment implantation (Tunnel)

Patients in this group are planned to undergo ICRS implantation through a femtosecond laser-assisted tunnel creation. The device creates an intrastromal tunnel with a depth of nearly 80% of the corneal thickness at the site of implantation. The tunnel inner and outer diameters are at 5 and 6 mm from the corneal center, respectively with the incision located at the steepest keratometry axis.

Sponsors

Assiut University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 35 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

1. Patients with progressive keratoconus with maximum keratometry (Kmax) between 50-65 diopters 2. Central keratoconus (Keratoconus with steepest corneal point within the central 3 mm zone). 3. Clear corneal with a minimum pachymetry of 400 μm.

Exclusion criteria

1. Corneal scars 2. Patients with advanced keratoconus with Kmax \> 65 diopters. 3. Non-central keratoconus (para-central or peripheral keratoconus with steepest corneal point outside the central 3 mm zone). 4. Previous corneal cross-linking and/or ocular surgery. 5. Systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus and autoimmune diseases

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Complications12 monthsPostoperative complications following intrastromal corneal ring segment implantation.
Postoperative keratometry12 monthsPostoperative keratometry as measured by Scheimpflug imaging Pentacam
Postoperative Refraction12 monthsSpherical equivalent refraction measured by Topcon Auto-Keratorefractometer
Corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA)12 monthsCorrected distance visual acuity measurement using Snellen's Acuity Chart expressed as logMAR notation
Uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA)12 monthsUncorrected distance visual acuity measurement using Snellen's Acuity Chart expressed as logMAR notation

Countries

Egypt

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026