Tell me more about corneal transplant surgery.

Of those who suffer from keratoconus, approximately 20% will undergo a corneal transplant. In the US, donor tissue is available in most instances and there are more than 4,000 transplants performed for keratoconus each year. The success rate is high although the grafts only last for about 10 years, therefore a young person may have to undergo several corneal transplants.  The recovery time for the patient varies and can take more than a year. Contact lenses or glasses are typically required after surgery to achieve acceptable vision.

What are the advantages of the Intacs procedure as compared to a corneal transplant?

A corneal transplant is an invasive surgical procedure, requiring the removal of a section of your cornea and having it replaced with donor tissue.  Although successful, it is a delicate procedure with typically a long recovery period.

The Intacs procedure does not require removal of corneal tissue, but rather works on the principal of reshaping your own cornea from within utilizing special designed corneal inserts that provide structure to a weakened cornea.  The recovery period is typically short, with visual improvement noticed almost immediately.

In the few cases in which a corneal transplant was performed after an Intacs procedure, there were no complications reported