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Refractive Surgery — Other Procedures
Corneal Implants:
Intracorneal Ring Segments, INTACTS
Corneal implants such as KeraVision rings or INTACTS are placed in the periphery of the cornea to change the corneal curvature. Usually, the implants can be removed thus making the procedure reversible.
Indication
— Nearsightedness up to -3 dpt without astigmatism.
— Keratoconus
Intracorneal ring segments did not succeed to become a commonly used procedure to correct mild myopia. Today, they are mostly used in patients with keratoconus to stabilize the thin cornea.
Properties
— correction is performed outside the optic center
— good predictability of the result
— possibility of vision fluctuations for several weeks
— reversibility of the effect (by removal of the implant)
— enhancement procedure by exchanging rings
Procedure
ICRs are thin synthetic segments in the shape of an arch with an inner diameter of 6.7mm. The transparent synthetic segments are made of PMMA (Polymethylmetacrylate), the same material which has been used as a lens replacement for cataract treatment for approximately 30 years.
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An experienced ophthalmologist should do the surgery. It is done ambulatory and under local anesthesia and takes only approximately 15 - 20 minutes. A small, approximately 1.8 mm long and 0.4 mm deep, incision is placed in the cornea with a special diamond blade or the femtosecond laser. |
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In this opening, two semicircular channels are prepared with a special, crescent-shaped instrument. The two-piece synthetic ring (each of the semicircular plastic pieces has an arch length of 150 degrees) is placed in the channels on the corneal periphery. This flattens the corneal center and corrects the nearsightedness. |
For most patients, the change of refractive power will take place within a few days. Due to the healing process, some fluctuations in vision may occur within the first three months after surgery but should decrease with time. Should the treatment effect not be attained, the rings can be removed or replaced.
