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Keratoconus is a disease that causes
a progressive thinning of the cornea, the clear
front portion of the eye. As a result of this
condition, the normal outward pressure from within
the eye causes the cornea to progressively bulge
into a cone-like shape. Keratoconus rarely results
in total blindness although it can significantly
impair vision and, according to experts, lead
to the need for a corneal transplant in up to
20% of cases.
 While
nobody knows the cause of keratoconus, there is
evidence that the disease has genetic origins,
possibly made worse by environmental factors.
It normally affects both eyes, though it typically
progresses at different rates. In most people,
keratoconus begins during their teen years and
slowly worsens before stabilizing in their 30’s
or 40’s.
 Keratoconus
is estimated to affect one in 2,000 people across
all races. It is normally treated with rigid contact
lenses to reshape and flatten the pronounced curve
of the bulging cornea and to improve vision. A
proper contact lens fit is crucial to obtain adequate
vision and wearing comfort. Poorly fitting or
outdated contact lenses can be uncomfortable and
lead to additional complications like corneal
abrasions, scarring or infection.
 Intacs
prescription inserts provide a unique new option
to improve a patient’s vision and possibly defer
a corneal transplant. Intacs are indicated for
the correction of nearsightedness and astigmatism
for patients with keratoconus, where contact lenses
and glasses no longer provide suitable vision.
For those keratoconic patients who
are contact lens intolerant, Intacs prescription
inserts offer a less threatening option than a
corneal transplant. Most physicians would prefer
to delay a corneal transplant – to make it the
option of last resort. Intacs prescription inserts
make this a possibility by improving functional
vision, and possibly delaying the need for a corneal
transplant.
| Placing
Intacs in the periphery of the cornea
flattens the center by restoring the natural
dome shape of the cornea to improve vision.
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Imagine
your keratoconic cornea
as a tent with a curved top.
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If
the sides are pushed out, the
top is flattened slightly and the
dome shape is restored.
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The goal of the Intacs procedure
is to provide the keratoconic patient with
the ability to achieve improved functional
vision with contact lenses or glasses and
in some cases without them. In the few patients
who later had a corneal transplant after having
the Intacs procedure, their transplants were
completed without any complications. Talk
to your physician today to see if Intacs are
right for you.*
Insurance companies may cover all
aspects of the procedure for keratoconus. Since
this is a new indication, some insurers may not
yet recognize this procedure for treating keratoconus.
Addition Technology is working to educate insurers
on the importance of the Intacs procedure for
treating keratoconic patients. You and our center
may, in some cases, also need to help educate
your insurance company. For more information and
assistance, please call us at 1-877-GET-2020
Although your eye care professional
is the best source of information, you may want
to conduct your own research on keratoconus. A
good place to begin is the National Institute
of Health at
www.nei.nih.gov/health/cornealdisease.
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