To report the clinical course of a typical young patient presenting with asymmetric keratoconus (KC), that demonstrates that stabilization of the ectatic process is possible without cross-linking (CXL) procedure.

Case report and review of the literature.

A 17-year-old male patient was referred due to the diagnosis of keratoconus. Patient complained of loss of vision in the left eye (OS). Uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) was 20/25+ in the right eye (OD) and 20/80 in the left eye; wavefront-assisted manifest refraction gave best corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) of 20/20 in OD and 20/40 in OS. The diagnosis of keratoconus was confirmed with Placido disk-based topography (Oculus Keratograph 4), and Pentacam HR corneal tomography (Oculus Optikgeräte GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany). Femtosecond laser-assisted intracorneal ring segment (ICRS) implantation was performed in the left eye and treatment for allergy was prescribed for both eyes, along with patient education and advice not to rub the eyes. After 3 months, significant improvement was observed on UDVA (20/30) and CDVA (20/20) in the left eye. Topometric and tomographic stability of ectasia was observed in the right eye in a 4-year follow-up.

Intracorneal ring segment caused significant regularization of the corneal shape and improvement on visual acuity. Ectasia stability was achieved with no need for CXL, despite the patient's young age. This case raises the point that the indication of CXL for every keratoconic patient should be reconsidered.

de Oliveira Corrêa R, Canedo ALC, Beildeck R, Salomão MQ, de Politis PB, Ambrósio R Jr. Longterm Stability of Ectasia in a Young Patient with Asymmetric Keratoconus. Int J Kerat Ect Cor Dis 2015;4(2):66-68.