ELZA’s medical director, Prof. Farhad Hafezi, MD, PhD, FARVO, is heavily involved in the development of a new, advanced technique that helps improve the shape of the cornea of people with corneal ectasias, and the latest step in this research, performed in collaboration with the research groups of Shady Awwad and Soosan Jacob, was recently published in the Journal of Refractive Surgery.
The asymmetric all-femtosecond laser-cut corneal allogenic intrastromal ring segment (Femto-CAIRS) technique, which involves a meticulous process of using a femtosecond laser to craft corneal segments, represents a significant advancement in the treatment of keratoconus. This condition, characterized by the progressive distortion of the cornea, poses a considerable challenge in ophthalmology, particularly in cases where astigmatism and coma axes are misaligned.
Prof. Farhad Hafezi’s involvement in the study has been instrumental in refining this technique. His contributions have led to improvements in its precision and effectiveness, resulting in notable enhancements in patients’ visual acuity, refractive errors, and corneal topography. The utilization of allogenic material in this procedure is a key factor, as it minimizes the risk of rejection that can occur with synthetic implants. The precision of the femtosecond laser ensures that the segments are perfectly tailored to fit each individual’s cornea.
Femto-CAIRS can be performed at the ELZA Institute. Our adoption of femto-CAIRS demonstrates our commitment to incorporating cutting-edge technologies in ophthalmic care to deliver the best-possible visual outcomes to patients requiring our care.
This method, in appropriate corneas, can provide a significant improvement over older intracorneal ring-segment approaches for the treatment of keratoconus, and can in certain cases, be combined with other procedures like PACE and therapeutic laser surgery to make the surface of ectatic corneas more regularized. The success of this technique in treating keratoconus patients that we have already seen further solidifies ELZA’s position as a world leader in treating “complex cornea cases”. Femto-CAIRS’ ability to customize the ring shape to the unique corneal shape of each patient, coupled with the biocompatible nature of the allogenic material, while not appropriate in all keratoconus corneas, does represent a valuable addition to the arsenal of treatments surgeons can use to rehabilitate the vision that was degraded by keratoconus.
In summary, the development and application of the asymmetric all-femtosecond laser-cut corneal allogenic intrastromal ring segment technique mark a significant step forward in the treatment of keratoconus. This innovative approach offers a promising option for individuals seeking effective management of this challenging ocular condition.
Reference:
Bteich Y, Assaf JF, Gendy JE, Müller F, Jacob S, Hafezi F, et al. Asymmetric all-femtosecond laser–cut corneal allogenic intrastromal ring segments. J Refract Surg. 2023 Dec;39(12):856–862.
