Treatment of Corneal Ectasia by Implantation of an Allogenic Corneal Lenticule.

PURPOSE: To describe a case in which post-LASIK corneal ectasia was treated using an allogeneic lenticule implanted into the recipient eye. METHODS: A 29-year-old man presented with bilateral ectasia 10 years after LASIK. Manifest refraction was -1.50 -3.25 x 15 degrees in the right eye and -13.50 -6.00 x 10 degrees in the left eye. Because of contact lens intolerance in the left eye, the authors decided to implant an allogenic corneal lenticule. created by small incision lenticule extraction with the VisuMax laser (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Jena. Germany) in a donor eye with a refraction of +5.75 -0.50 x 15 degrees. The intended peripheral thickness was 116 mu m and the central thickness was 20 mu m. The lenticule was placed under the original LASIK flap in the left eye. RESULTS: Ten months after surgery, refraction of the left eye had improved to -3.25 -1.50 x 10 degrees with a corrected distance visual acuity of 20/40. The front corneal flat and steep values were decreased by 6.20 and 5.90 diopters (D), respectively, relative to corresponding preoperative values. The cornea remained clear throughout the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Implantation of an allogenic lenticule may be an option in the treatment of advanced ectasia.