Lasik in 2003, Ectasia, Intacs, Ferrera Rings, Eye Pain, Now Seeing Clearly with GVR Scleral Lens

This patient visited us from Mexico after suffering debilitating vision loss from LASIK and additional ocular surgeries. In 2003 this woman had LASIK surgery in both eyes. In 2005 she underwent a 2nd LASIK procedure in her right eye. Several years later she developed post-LASIK ectasia in her left eye. In 2007, Intacs surgery was attempted in her left eye but the surgery was not successful so a penetrating keratoplasty (corneal transplant) was done instead. In 2012 this patient’s right eye developed post-LASIK ectasia. After visiting several world famous eye institutions, this patient visited us for the first time in 2013. At that time we fit both eyes with GVR Scleral lenses which provided her with clear (20/20), comfortable and stable vision for the first time in many years. While her vision remained clear and stable for 18 months, in November, 2014, she visited a corneal specialist in Mexico who told her that the ectasia in her right eye had progressed and that she needed Intacs surgery in order for her to avoid corneal transplant surgery. Instead of placing Intacs plastic rings into her right cornea, this doctor inserted Ferrara rings into the center of her right cornea. Ferrara rings are plastic semicircular inserts that do not have FDA approval for use in the United States. The Ferrara rings surgery created additional distortions to her right eye and left her with constant pain in this eye. Last week we refit this patient’s right eye with a GVR Scleral lens. She is now seeing clearly and comfortably once again in both eyes. In addition, the pain in her right eye is no longer there. It has been my experience that most patients who have suffered from post-LASIK ectasia do not do well after undergoing either Intacs or Ferrara ring surgery. In the lower left photo shown here is an image of this patient’s right cornea. A special dye was used to highlight the lower Ferrara ring and the LASIK flap border. The lower “horse-shoe” image is the inferior Ferrara ring. It is located very close to the corneal surface which is one reason why she is experiencing eye pain. The lower center photo shows the Ferrara rings circling around the pupillary border. At night, when this patient’s pupil is most dilated, she notes distortions around lights. The lower right photo shows the GCR Scleral lens over her left corneal transplant. As long as she wears her scleral lenses, this patient will have clear, stable vision. She will never need to undergo a corneal transplant in her right eye.