Q. What are
Intacs™?
A. Intacs corneal ring segments
are the revolutionary way to correct mild nearsightedness-without laser
surgery. They provide an alternative to eyeglasses, contact lenses,
and surgical procedures that permanently alter the eye by cutting or
removing tissue from the central cornea.
Intacs are two tiny half rings.
To get an idea of how small they are, just imagine a contact lens where
the center part has been removed and only the very outer edge remains;
then imagine this ring divided into two equal halves. That's how tiny
Intacs are. They are made of a special biocompatible plastic that has
been safely used in contact lenses and cataract surgery for nearly 50
years. When placed in the periphery of the cornea, they are practically
invisible-and they cannot be felt. Intacs reshape corneal curvature
without removing tissue from the central optical zone, the area of the
cornea that is most critical for clear vision. This subtle reshaping
makes nearsighted corneas flatter, thereby correcting vision.
Intacs are the result of nearly
a decade of clinical research and have been available in other countries
for several years.
Q. What are the advantages of Intacs™?
A. Intacs offer several key advantages:
• Intacs are a safe and
effective means to correcting mild nearsightedness.
• Intacs are FDA-approved.
• Intacs offer an immediate improvement in vision.
• Intacs provide excellent results. In U.S. clinical studies,
97% of patients saw 20/40 or better with Intacs, 74% saw 20/20 or better, and 53% saw 20/16 or
better.
• Intacs are maintenance-free.
• Tissue is not removed from the central optical zone, the region
of the cornea most important for clear vision.
• Intacs offer greater flexibility, because they can be removed
or replaced.
Q. Who is a candidate for Intacs™?
A. Intacs are currently available
for people with mild myopia (nearsightedness) who have no more than
1.00 diopter of astigmatism. The best way to find out if you are a candidate
for the procedure is to schedule an appointment with Your Doctor so
he can evaluate your vision.
You may
qualify for Intacs, if:
• Your prescription for
eyeglasses or contacts is between -1.00 and -3.00 diopters, with no
more than 1.00 diopter of astigmatism. If you don't know your current
prescription, we can schedule you for a complimentary examination
and consultation;
• You have healthy eyes, free from disease or injuries;
• You have had stable vision for at least one year; and
•You are at least 21 years of age.
Q. Who is not a candidate for Intacs™?
A. You should not have Intacs placed if:
• You have autoimmune
or immunodeficiency diseases (lupus, rheumatoid arthritis or AIDS,
for example);
• You are pregnant or nursing;
• You have known conditions of the eye that may increase the
possibility of future problems; or
• You are taking prescription medications that may affect corneal
healing or your vision.
Your Doctor will review your
general medical history with you and will evaluate your eyes for any
conditions that might suggest you should not have Intacs. It is important
to advise Your Doctor if you have had a Herpes infection in your eyes
or if you have insulin-dependent diabetes or other medical condition
that might affect wound healing. You should also bring a list of any
prescription and over-the-counter medicines that you take.
Q. What are Intacs™ made of?
A. Intacs are made of a special
biocompatible plastic that has been safely used for nearly 50 years
in contact lenses and in the intraocular lenses used to treat patients
with cataracts. Intacs are designed for permanent placement in the eye,
but they are also removable.
Q. What is the difference between Intacs™ and
other refractive procedures?
A. Intacs are designed to be
placed in the outer edge of the cornea away from the "central optical
zone." Because nearly all the light that reaches the retina must
pass through the central optical zone, it is the part of your cornea
most important for clear vision. Therefore, it is essential not to damage
the central optical zone. The procedure for placement of Intacs does
not cut or remove tissue from the central optical zone. This makes the
procedure quite different from other refractive surgical procedures
that permanently alter the central cornea. Intacs are also removable
and replaceable.
Q. How do Intacs™ work?
A. Simply, Intacs gently change
the shape of your cornea to correct your vision. In the nearsighted
eye, the curve of the cornea is too steep. Light rays entering the eye
are bent too much and are focused in front of the retina-instead of
on it. As a result, things far away appear blurry. Intacs change the
shape of the cornea, allowing the light rays to focus on the retina.
But unlike laser surgery, which reshapes the cornea by removing tissue
from the center, Intacs are placed in the outer edge-leaving the central
optical zone intact.
Q. What is
the central optical zone and why is it so important?
A. The central optical zone refers
to the center area of your cornea. Virtually all light that enters your
eye passes through the central optical zone in order to be focused.
For this reason, the central optical zone is crucial to clear vision.
Intacs corneal ring segments are specially designed to be placed in
the outer edge of the cornea away from the central optical zone. - back
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GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE PROCEDURE AND AFTERWARD
Q. What's involved in the procedure?
A. Typically, patients are given
a mild oral sedative and eye drops to numb the eye before the procedure.
A tiny opening, less than 2 mm, is made near the upper edge of the cornea
beneath the upper eyelid. Intacs are inserted through this opening so
that they rest between the layers of tissue in the cornea, outside the
central optical zone. This procedure usually takes about 15 minutes
and is performed in our office.
Q. What are
the risks?
A. As with any refractive surgical
procedure, there are certain risks and complications. Your Doctor will
be happy to discuss the potential risks and benefits in detail with
you. Clinical studies in the U.S. showed that infection, which is a
risk with any surgical procedure, occurred 0.2% of the time following the placement of Intacs.
Other adverse events included: shallow Intacs placement (0.2%), temporary loss of 2 lines of best-corrected vision (0.2%) and anterior chamber perforation during surgery
(0.4%). None of these events resulted in a permanent
loss of vision. Other complications included: over correction, reduction
in central corneal sensation, difficulty with night vision, under correction,
induced astigmatism, blurry vision, double vision, corneal blood vessels,
halos, glare, fluctuating distance vision and a reduction of 2 or more
lines of best corrected vision. If the results of the procedure are
not satisfactory, your Intacs may be removed or replaced.
Q. How long does it take to recuperate?
A. The majority of patients notice
significantly improved vision the first day after surgery. Most people
resume normal activities usually the next day.
Q. Who does the procedure, and where is it performed?
A. Your Doctor, who has received
special training in the placement of Intacs, will perform the procedure.
The procedure will be performed in our office operating room.
Q. How long does the procedure take?
A. The procedure takes approximately
15 minutes for one eye, and you go home the same day. The total procedure,
including the pre-surgical preparation, is usually completed in less
than one hour.
Q. Will both eyes be done on the same day?
A. Both eyes may be corrected
- the decision will be made by you and Your Doctor.
Q. What can I expect my vision to be?
A. In U.S. clinical studies,
97% of patients saw 20/40 or better with Intacs; 74% saw 20/20 or better-the standard for good vision, and 53% saw 20/16 or better-a level that exceeds the standard for
good vision.
Q. Will I still need glasses or contact lenses after
the procedure?
A. Typically, patients no longer
depend on glasses for correction of their distance vision. Some patients
may still wear glasses for reasons specific to their situation. For
example, Intacs does not correct presbyopia (the difficulty with near
vision), so you may need reading glasses. It is not recommended that
a contact lens be worn on an eye that has Intacs.
Q. How long do Intacs ™ stay in the eye?
A. Intacs are intended to remain
permanently in place without maintenance, yet as an Intacs trained ophthalmic
surgeon, Your Doctor can easily remove them.
Q. Can Intacs™ be felt once they are in place?
A. No. Intacs are not felt because
they are placed in the cornea beneath the nerve endings.
Q. Can Intacs™ be seen by the naked eye?
A. Intacs are rarely noticeable
to other people and their appearance in the eye is similar to a contact
lens. They might be seen up close with a flashlight shining on your
eye from the side.
Q. Can they dry out or get dirty like a contact lens?
A. No. Intacs are designed to
remain permanently in place within the cornea and don't require maintenance.
Q. Could I have an allergic reaction to Intacs?
A. The material used for Intacs
has a long history of being safely used in the eye for cataract operations
and outside the eye for contact lenses. It has not been known to interact
with eye tissue to produce an allergic reaction or other side effects,
such as swelling or irritation.
Q. What if my vision changes?
A. As you get older, your eyesight
will change. If the Intacs you were given no longer provide the amount
of correction you need, they may be removed or replaced. If they are
replaced, your recovery is as rapid as the original procedure. If you
choose to proceed to another procedure such as LASIK, that procedure
can usually be performed within a month. If the Intacs are removed with
no other procedure planned, your vision will return to its original
level almost immediately but will continue to improve over three month's
time. Your Doctor will help you determine the best means to accommodate
any changes in your vision.
Q. What will my vision be like if I later want Intacs
removed?
A. Intacs can be easily removed
in a brief outpatient procedure. When Intacs were removed in U.S. clinical
studies, patients' vision returned to their preoperative levels in most
cases. This process typically took up to three months. All patients'
corrected vision was 20/20 or better following the removal of Intacs.
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QUESTIONS ABOUT COST AND MORE
INFORMATION
Q. What will this procedure cost?
A. The fee for Intacs and the
procedure to insert them is typically similar to other refractive procedures
for vision correction, such as LASIK. The fee is as low as $100 per
month.
Q. How can I get more information?
A. The best way to see if Intacs
are right for you is to schedule an appointment for a brief complimentary
evaluation. If you would like further information, you can also call
the manufacturer's toll-free information line, 888-8INTACS (888-846-8227)
or visit the web site, "www.getintacs.com".
