Topographic predicted corneal acuity with intrastromal corneal ring segments.

PURPOSE: To evaluate predicted optical quality of the central anterior corneal surface before and after the intrastromal corneal ring segment (ICRS) refractive procedure using a clinical videokeratoscope and software index developed for that purpose. METHODS: Predicted corneal acuity, a topographically derived index provided with the EyeSys System 2000 videokeratscope, representing potential optical quality of the cornea, was assessed preoperatively and at postoperative month 3 in 94 eyes that received an ICRS to treat -1.00 to -6.00 D of myopia. Predicted corneal acuity was calculated by determining the difference between a measured cornea and its best-fit ellipses for reflected ring circumferences within the central 3 mm diameter zone. RESULTS: Preoperative predicted corneal acuity was 20/10 in 92 of 94 eyes (98%). At month 3 after the ICRS procedure, 48 (51%) of moderately myopic eyes were corrected to 20/20 or better, 96% (90 eyes) were corrected to 20/40 or better, and 98% of eyes (92 eyes) had a predicted corneal acuity of 20/10. For the eyes with a predicted corneal acuity of 20/10, spectacle-corrected visual acuity was normally distributed between 20/10 and 20/25. CONCLUSION: Predicted corneal acuity did not change significantly from baseline in eyes with an ICRS. This suggests that topographic irregularities in the central 3 mm of the cornea detectable by predicted corneal acuity software were not induced in the central cornea with the ICRS.