Intacs Corneal Rings

Intacs Corneal Ring Segments

Intacs Corneal Ring Segments are a safe, natural, and flexible alternative to laser eye surgery for people with mild cases of nearsightedness at Boothe Eyecare & Laser Center. Intacs implants are micro-thin and require no maintenance after being inserted in the eye. Once they are in place, the implants are no more visible than contact lenses and patients will not feel them in their eye. Intacs simply enhance the natural optics of the eye without making any permanent changes to the eye, which makes the procedure entirely safe and risk-free.

Unlike laser surgery, Intacs implant procedures do not involve surgical excision of corneal tissues, which leaves your natural eye intact. This gives flexibility to patients who may want to keep their options open in the long run. Should your prescription change, for example, the implants can be removed and readjusted at any time. Removal causes no damage to your eye.

How it works

The implant procedure requires a brief outpatient appointment. The surgeon will start by administering an anesthetic eye drop and using a speculum to keep your eyelids open. A single incision is created in the cornea and the implants are inserted just beneath the surface, along the periphery of the eye. The implants work naturally from within to flatten the shape of your cornea, allowing light rays to be refocused directly on your retina. This simple procedure results in crisp, clear vision. Nearsightedness is caused when the cornea is too steep.

More than a decade of clinical research overwhelmingly supports the effectiveness of Intacs implants. According to U.S. clinical studies, more than 97 percent of Intacs patients achieve perfect vision and a majority of patients achieve vision exceeding 20/20.

To find out whether you are a good candidate for Intacs implants, call Dr. William Boothe today to schedule a personalized consultation. Dr. Boothe is one of the most experienced laser eye surgeons in the United States. Typically, Intacs are an option for people who are at least 21 years old and have had stable, healthy eyes that have not been previously injured. Intacs is also only ideal for people with mild nearsightedness, between -1.00 and -3.00 diopters.

Intacs are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and by the Federal Aviation Association for use by pilots. They are also an excellent option for patients with keratoconus, an eye disease in which the cornea progressively grows thinner. Implants can help stabilize the cornea and improve vision for people living with this condition. At some stage of keratoconus, contact lenses and eyeglasses are no longer viable in providing clear vision. Before Intacs were available, the only solution for keratoconus patients was a corneal transplant.