UCSF

Purpose

To report two cases of patients with late extrusion following uneventful implantation of intrastromal corneal ring segments (ICRS) for myopia.

Observations

Two patients with previously implanted ICRS for low myopia presented with spontaneous onset of extrusion of their ICRS, one at 7 years post-operatively and the other at 17 and 20 years. Both cases underwent explantation and maintained excellent best-corrected visual acuity. These cases represent the longest reported intervals between implantation of the ICRS and subsequent extrusion.

Conclusions and importance

Late extrusion can occur many years following implantation of ICRS, even in eyes without pre-existing thinning or ectasia. The technique for explantation described herein can result in favorable clinical outcomes in such cases. These cases demonstrate the importance of long-term follow up of eyes that have undergone ICRS implantation.