Laser Eye Surgery - Intacs for Keratoconus
In Chicago, Illinois
Keratoconus is an eye disease that results in misshapen and thinning corneal tissue. Keratoconus affects one in 2,000 people in the U.S. and typically begins in adolescent years, slowly worsening before stabilizing in patients' 30s or 40s. During the course of keratoconus, pressure within the eye may cause the cornea to morph into a cone shape and negatively impact vision. Low to severe vision loss can occur, and serious cases of keratoconus can result in the need for a corneal transplant. Keratoconus can be caught early during routine eye exams, preventing vision loss in patients.
Keratoconus patients cannot usually benefit from refractive procedures such as laser eye surgeries or PRK because patients' corneas tend to be unacceptable thin and weak.
Although Keratoconus is typically treated with special rigid contact lenses, there can be uncomfortable side effects. Intacs corneal rings are the latest keratoconus treatment, offering patients improvement in vision and possibly preventing corneal transplant. Originally designed to correct mild nearsightedness, Intacs can provide keratoconus patients with the ability to achieve improved functional vision with contact lenses or glasses and in some cases without them. Composed of two tiny half rings made of a special plastic, Intacs are inserted into the cornea and are almost invisible and undetectable.
Discover LASIK and the world beyond glasses and contacts. Call or email Northwestern Vision Correction Associates in Chicago, Illinois for your free vision consultation.