When you have keratoconus, your cornea thins and bulges outward into a cone shape. This distortion scatters light as it enters your eye, leaving you with blurry, cloudy vision that regular glasses can’t correct. Before you consider a corneal transplant, find out if Intacs® could be the solution you need.
Stephen Khachikian, MD, specializes in treating keratoconus at his practice in Rapid City, South Dakota. He offers Intacs implants as a minimally invasive option that can help flatten your cornea’s irregular bulge and improve your vision.
Unlike some eye procedures, Intacs don’t remove any part of your cornea. Instead, these clear crescent-shaped implants work from within. Dr. Khachikian places these micro-thin rings into the periphery of your cornea, where they gently flatten the cone-shaped bulge of keratoconus.
The procedure takes less than 30 minutes. After creating a small incision in your cornea, Dr. Khachikian inserts the precisely sized Intacs rings. Once in place, they’re invisible to others but continuously work to maintain your cornea’s improved shape.
You might benefit from Intacs if you:
During your consultation, Dr. Khachikian measures your corneal thickness to ensure you have enough tissue to support the implants. You’ll get the best results if your corneas remain clear without much scarring.
You can return to your normal routine within a few days after undergoing the Intacs procedure. Your vision will improve gradually over several weeks as your cornea adjusts to its new shape.
Unlike corneal transplant surgery that keeps you recovering for months with ongoing steroid eye drops, you’ll experience less discomfort and see improvements sooner with Intacs. If needed, Dr. Khachikian can remove or exchange the inserts later — an option you don’t have with procedures that remove tissue.
Your vision should improve after Intacs, but their main benefit is stopping your keratoconus from getting worse. You may still need glasses or contacts afterward, but your prescription will likely be simpler.
Many of Dr. Khachikian’s patients find that they can comfortably wear specialty contact lenses after getting Intacs, even when they couldn’t tolerate contacts before. This combination — surgical stabilization plus specialized contacts — gives you the best possible vision with keratoconus.
Dr. Khachikian can evaluate whether your keratoconus has reached the stage where Intacs® would help you. Many patients find this minimally invasive option gives them better vision and stops their condition from worsening.Call our office at 605-203-4256 today or schedule your appointment online to discover if Intacs could stabilize your vision before you need more extensive treatment.
