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Intacs - Implants for Myopia and Keratoconus
Serving Los Angeles and Surrounding Communities in Orange County, California
Intacs are very small, clear, plastic inserts that can be implanted within the cornea to correct refractive errors such as myopia and astigmatism. These inserts also help to improve the vision of people suffering from Keratoconus.
Intacs for Keratoconus
Keratoconus is a progressive disease that affects the cornea in one or both eyes. Keratoconus causes the corneal tissue to thin and bulge; making the cornea that is normally round and spherical warp into a cone-like shape.
Keratoconus affects vision because the light that enters the eye is distorted, and it hits the retina incorrectly. When light is not diffracted correctly, it causes objects to appear blurry. It is now believed that keratoconus may be caused by a chemical imbalance, which causes damage to the eye tissue.
People suffering from keratoconus will often have to obtain new eyeglass or contact prescriptions each time they visit their eye doctor. On top of this, contacts and eye glasses may not correct their vision forever.
When contacts and eyeglasses can no longer be used to correct keratoconus, Intacs can be implanted within the cornea. Intacs are tiny plastic implants that are placed within the corneal tissue in the eye, flattening the corneal tissue, and improving vision.
The intac procedure takes about 10 minutes, and on average, Intacs improve vision two lines or more on a vision chart. Also, if the keratoconus progresses, Intacs can be removed, and replaced with different sized intacs to further correct vision.
The best way to find out if intacs can be used to correct your keratoconus is to schedule an Keratoconus consultation with Dr. Khanna in Southern California.
Intacs for Myopia and Astigmatism
Myopia and astigmatism are refractive errors that people are either born with or develop over time. Myopia occurs when the eye is too long, or the cornea is too steep, causing light to focus in front of the retina.
Astigmatism occurs when the cornea is shaped more oblong, like the tip of a football, rather than spherical. This causes light to focus on two different points on the retina, making objects appear blurry.
In order to correct refractive errors, there are a few different options, including LASIK, Implantable Contact Lenses (ICLs), glasses, or contacts. Intacs are a new type of implant that can correct such refractive errors as myopia, astigmatism, and corneas that have degenerated from Keratoconus.
During the procedure, your eye surgeon will make two, very small tunnels in the corneal tissue, just outside the central vision zone. Then, the Intacs will be inserted in the tunnels, correcting the shape of the cornea. Thicker or thinner Intacs will be implanted, depending on the level of correction needed.
If you would like to learn more about how Intacs can correct your vision, or if you would like to learn about LASIK and other refractive surgeries, contact Dr. Khanna at the Khanna Institute of LASIK and Refractive Surgery in Orange County, California to schedule your free Myopia consultation.
