Abstract
Purpose:
To evaluate visual recovery and safety after removal of a small aperture intra-corneal inlay.
Methods:
Retrospective analysis of 63 patients who had their inlay removed at 11.3 ± 7.4 months after implantation. All patients were monitored for 6 months following inlay removal. Uncorrected and best-corrected distance and near logMAR visual acuities and manifest spherical equivalent refraction (MRSE) were measured pre-inlay, pre-removal and at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months post-removal. Data is presented as mean ± SD.
Results:
The mean age of patients was 52.6 ± 6.4 years. UDVA was 0.13 logMAR ± 0.26 pre-removal and 0.08 logMAR ± 0.22 at 6 months post-removal (p = 0.37). UNVA was 0.33 ± 0.25 pre-removal and 0.41 logMAR ± 0.30 at 6 months post-removal (p = 0.21). MRSE ± SD was -0.54D ± 0.27D pre-removal and -0.18D ± 0.78D at 6 months post-removal (p = 0.05). Pre-inlay BDVA was -0.13 logMAR ± 0.07 and at 6 months post-removal BDVA was -0.10 logMAR ± 0.12 (p = 0.13). BDVA recovered to pre-inlay level in 61 out of 63 patients at 6 months post-removal. Six months post-removal, 2 out of 63 patients lost 1 line of pre-inlay BDVA. 100%, 89.3% and 100% of patients had 0.17 logMAR or better BDVA pre-inlay, pre-removal and at 6 months post-removal respectively. Both uncorrected & best-corrected visual acuities recovered by 1 month and stabilized by 3 months post-removal.
Conclusions:
Visual recovery following removal of the small aperture corneal inlay occurs swiftly. Most subjects recover distance and near visual acuities to pre-inlay level. Small aperture intra-corneal inlay implantation remains a safe option for treatment of presbyopia.
Keywords: 653 presbyopia •
682 refractive surgery: other technologies •
479 cornea: clinical science