OBJECTIVES
To document the difference between complication rate in the early curve of practicing intracorneal stromal rings and after gaining experience
PATIENTS AND METHODS
A retrospective study of 623 eyes of 417 patients with keratoconus who underwent Keraring implantation using femtosecond laser for channel creation
RESULTS
The main outcome measures were reported intraoperative and postoperative complications. The overall complication rate was 12.7% (79 eyes) over the 4 years with 34 eyes in the first year (5.5%) and six eyes in the fourth year (0.96%). Over the 4 years of our practice, intraoperative complications were 7.1% and postoperative complications were 5.6%. Yet, there was a significant difference in intraoperative complications between the first and the fourth year where it was 3.5% and 0.48%, respectively. This also applies to the postoperative complication rate, which decreased from 1.9% to 0.5% in the fourth year
CONCLUSION
Complications with femtosecond-assisted intracorneal stromal ring procedure can be reduced by experience, making this procedure a safe and effective means of treating keratoconus. Yet, there are some complications that cannot be avoided such as sterile keratitis