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Intacs Corneal Implants for Keratoconus

Keratoconus is an eye condition that causes a progressive thinning of the cornea, the clear front portion of the eye. As a result, the cornea may progressively bulge into a cone-like shape. Fortunately, Keratoconus almost never results in blindness, but it can significantly impair vision and lead to the need for a corneal transplant in up to 20% of cases.

While nobody knows the exact 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 affects one eye more than the other. In most people, keratoconus begins during their teen years and slowly worsens before stabilizing during the 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 Poorly fitting or outdated contact lenses can be uncomfortable and lead to additional complications like corneal abrasions, scarring or infection.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 delay or eliminate the need for a corneal transplant. Intacs are indicated for patients with keratoconus, where contact lenses and glasses no longer provide suitable vision.

For those keratoconus patients, who are contact lens intolerant, Intacs prescription inserts offer a less threatening option than a corneal transplant. Intacs prescription inserts improve functional vision, and possibly delay 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. Imagine the cornea as a tent with a curved top. If the sides are pushed out, the top of the tent is flattened slightly and the dome shape is restored.

The goal of the Intacs procedure is to provide the keratoconus 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.

Will insurance cover this procedure?

Insurance companies may cover all aspects of this procedure for keratoconus. Since this is a new indication, some insurers may not yet recognize this procedure for treating keratoconus. For more information, please call us at 1-877-438-2020

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