INTACS® for Keratoconus
Serving Seattle, Bellevue, Everett, Olympia, and Tacoma, WA
Keratoconus is a thinning of the cornea (clear front part of the eye), so that it can’t contain the internal eye pressure adequately. It begins to bulge forward, impairing your vision.
Our eyes are filled with fluid which needs to be kept at a certain steady pressure. Fluid is continually seeping from the eyes and being replaced. When the tiny drainage holes (known as puncta) at the inside corners of the eye become narrowed or plugged, glaucoma results. In Keratoconus, drainage is not the problem – it’s the thickness and strength of the cornea which is the problem.
Keratoconus is progressive and tends to appear in the teens or early twenties. It might be in both eyes or only one. Because it usually develops slowly, it can be hard to detect. It makes the corneal shape become irregular, which causes astigmatism. And because it bulges the cornea forward, increasing its steepness, it causes nearsightedness.
Causes are not clear
Some research suggests that an imbalance of enzymes in the cornea may be a cause. Some risk factors are:
- Genetics – keratoconus tends to run in families
- Overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays
- Poorly-fitting contact lenses
- Too much eye rubbing
What are Intacs?
Intacs are tiny plastic inserts implanted in the periphery of the cornea. They are made of the same plastic material that is used for the intraocular lenses that treat cataracts and presbyopia. It is biocompatible and poses very little risk of adverse reaction.
Intacs are shaped like new moons, curving precisely around your particular corneal shape. Your Intacs would be customized and perhaps different in each eye. They are an FDA-approved treatment for keratoconus when glasses and contact lenses are not effective. The procedure takes about 15 minutes and is done on an outpatient basis.
How Do Intacs Work?
Intacs raise the outside edge of the cornea very slightly. This has the effect of flattening the curvature. Unlike a LASIK procedure, no tissue is removed. They are placed in the cornea below where nerve endings are, so you will not feel them.
By correcting the corneal curvature, Intacs give you improved vision with less distortion, glare, and streaking of lights. They can be exchanged or removed if necessary. However, if you have severe keratoconus, Intacs will not stop the condition from progressing and cannot make up for the weakening of the cornea. Advanced cases may benefit from use of rigid gas-permeable contact lenses, which press down gently on the bulge. Sometimes the only remedy is a corneal transplant.
Please call or send our Lasik eye surgeon an email to arrange an initial laser vision correction surgery consultation. We believe strongly in patient education and both Lasik Surgeon Dr. Leavitt and his highly-trained staff will be glad to answer your questions. If you are in the Seattle, WA. area please call or email us today.