INTACS has been available as a surgical treatment since 1999 and has been used to treat keratoconus since 2004.
What is keratoconus?
Keratoconus is an eye condition that usually occurs in your late teens or early twenties. It causes the cornea, the front surface of your eye, to become thin and weak. This results in the cornea losing its smooth, dome shape and begins to bulge outwards, forming a cone-like shape.
Initially, you may notice that your vision is blurry or distorted and that it doesn’t improve when using prescription glasses. You may also experience an increased sensitivity to light.
Keratoconus is a progressive condition, which means it gets worse over the course of 10 to 20 years. During this time, you may need different treatments to ensure you continue to have clear vision.
In the early stages of the condition, special contact lenses are often effective at restoring your clarity of vision. However, as the condition progresses to a more moderate stage, these may not fit as well, causing discomfort, and could also start to fall out. One of the treatment options we usually recommend is INTACS.
What is INTACS?
INTACS for keratoconus reshape the cornea to restore clear vision. This outpatient procedure takes around 15 minutes and involves placing a number of custom sized rings into specific areas of your cornea. These are designed to flatten it, so light rays can be refocused to improve your visual acuity.
During your procedure, your eye doctor will create a tunnel in your cornea in order to insert the INTACS rings. The thicker they are, the more the cornea will be flattened, allowing for further vision correction.
Our INTACS keratoconus results are highly successful, proving it to be a safe and effective long-term solution that allows you to continue wearing contact lenses for keratoconus comfortably.
As with every eye surgery we perform, your INTACS procedure will be carefully planned beforehand. This will involve a thorough examination of your eyes and taking corneal measurements to determine the correct thickness and size of rings to use to give you the best possible outcome.
Benefits of INTACS
INTACS can prevent or significantly delay the need for a corneal transplant, which is the only option available once keratoconus has reached its most advanced stages. When compared to receiving a corneal transplant, INTACS:
- Is a less invasive procedure
- Has a shorter recovery time
- Has fewer side effects
INTACS for keratoconus – cost
INTACS are covered by most insurers and we will always work with you and your insurance provider to make sure the cost of your treatment is covered by your plan.
If you’d like to learn more about INTACS and find out whether it is right for you, contact us to book a consultation.
You’re in Good Hands with Our Doctors
We are dedicated to giving all of our patients the best experience possible. We’re here to put your mind at ease; with our experienced ophthalmologists and state-of-the-art technology, we can guarantee you’ll receive the most professional, reliable, and personalized treatments in San Antonio.