The Surgical Procedure

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Prior to any surgical procedure it is common to experience a degree of anticipation and anxiety. It may be comforting to know that the Intacs® procedure is far less invasive than a corneal transplant or many other surgical procedures of the eye and the Intacs® success rate is high. The surgeons performing the procedure are typically corneal surgeons, that have expertise with keratoconus. Each surgeon has also undergone a rigorous training program specific to Intacs® for treating patients with keratoconus.

Typically, your ophthalmologist, possibly working in tandem with an optometrist will have you undergo a thorough eye examination.

Your examination will include a variety of standard ophthalmic tests for this type of procedure, as well as general medical tests and a review of your specific medical history.

Anesthetic drops are used to numb the eye, which is held open throughout the procedure to prevent blinking.

 
Step 1   A single, small incision is made in the surface of the cornea.

Step 2   The eye is prepared for Intacs® placement. To stabilize your eye and ensure proper alignment of the Intacs® implants, the centering guide is placed on the surface of your eye. During this time, inner layers of the cornea are gently separated in a narrow circular area to allow for Intacs® placement.

Step 3   The implants are gently placed. After that, the small opening in the cornea is closed.

Step 4   The procedure is completed. The placement of Intacs® implants reshape and reinforce your cornea, eliminating some or all of the irregularities caused by keratoconus in order to provide you with improved vision. 

Follow-up visits will be required to monitor the healing process and evaluate the visual benefits of the procedure. Even after a successful procedure, glasses or contacts still may be required to provide you with good vision.

As with any surgical procedure, some risks are involved, including infection. Some patients experience visual symptoms which include difficulty with night vision, glare, halos, blurry and fluctuating vision.