Intacs Intracorneal Ring Segments
Dr. Duffey performs Intacs, intracorneal ring segment surgery to improve vision in patients with keratoconus. This procedure and technology was approved by the FDA in 1999 and has been studied in the United States dating back to 1991. Dr. Duffey is certified in this technology and surgery.
This microsurgical procedure is performed with topical anesthesia like the laser procedures, but uses no laser technology. Instead, microscopic-sized clear plastic bands (Figure 1) are implanted into the peripheral cornea of a patient (Figures 2 & 3) to affect the change in corneal curvature and lessen irregular astigmatism in patients with keratoconus. The advantage of this procedure is that the surgery spares the central cornea, and the rings can be removed in the future if the patient develops a problem or a change in refractive error.