| What are Intacs? |
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Intacs are small corneal implants that are FDA approved for the treatment of keratoconus. |
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| What is Keratoconus? |
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Keratoconus is a progressive eye disease that causes thinning of the cornea which is the front surface of the eye. As the condition progresses, the quality of vision can be affected dramatically.
The cause of Keratoconus is not greatly understood at this time. Some eye care physicians have suggested environmental associations or increased incidence in patients with severe and chronic allergies.
Keratoconus is usually diagnosed during the
early teenage years and continues to worsen until it typically stabilizes during the third or fourth decade of life. |
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Early treatments for Keratoconus may include glasses and gas permeable contact lenses however the disease may progress beyond the benefit received from these early treatments.
Historically, when glasses and gas permeable contact lenses were no longer of benefit, patients with Keratoconus required a corneal transplant procedure. Now, with the development of Intacs, patients can gain more clear and stable vision without having to undergo a significantly invasive corneal transplant. |
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| How Intacs Work |
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Intacs are small corneal implants used in patients with Keratoconus who no longer benefit from or have become intolerant to other treatments such as gas permeable lenses.
The placement of Intacs remodels and reinforces the cornea. This eliminates most or all of the visual irregularities that are caused by Keratoconus. Thus these implants stabilize the cornea, improve vision, and help deter the need for
future corneal transplants. |
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| What is the difference between Intacs and corneal transplants? |
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Corneal transplant surgery is invasive and requires the removal of a section of the cornea. This section is then replaced using donor tissue. Although this surgery is typically successful, there is a chance of tissue rejection and the recovery period can be quite long.
The implantation of Intacs does not require the removal of any corneal tissue. A very small incision is made in the surface of the cornea allowing the surgeon to insert the implant and correctly center it for the best visual outcome possible.
The recovery period for the Intacs procedure is typically short and visual improvement can be noticed almost immediately following the procedure.
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Please visit http://www.intacsforkeratoconus.com/guide/ for
a video and more information about Intacs.
Contact the Eye Gallery if you have any questions regarding Intacs. |
