INTACS

[Stephen Borthwick]

Hello everyone - my first post. I've been diagnosed with mild/moderate KC for a few years now but despite the best efforts of my optometrist and hospital contact lens fitters, we've not found any contact lenses that I can tolerate for more than 2 or 3 hours. The best, incidentally, are a silicone hydrogel Bausch&Lomb PureVision (balafilcon A). I can wear daily lenses (I'm moderately myopic too) but of course they don't correct KC.

A week ago I had INTACS fitted into my left eye. The procedure was done under general anaesthetic, but I was discharged from hospital the same day. Initially, my vision in that eye was fairly cloudy and unfocussed, and I was photosensitive. Once I'd recovered from the allergic reaction to the antibiotic eye drops (not part of the plan!), it's settled down nicely. A week after the op, after a check-up at the hospital when they removed the 'bandage' contact lens, which was annoying me (!), I'm pretty much back to the state I was in pre-surgery, and, although still a bit blurry, I can tell that the KC effects are much reduced. My eyesight is slowly changing in my left eye, and my expectation is that it will continue to change slowly, recovering to at least as good as it was. Ideally, of course, INTACS might leave me with no need for further correction, but I understand that might not happen in practice. I'm going to have a problem with my glasses soon, as the left lens won't be correct.

I've followed previous threads of those who have had INTACS: how are you getting on now? And is there anyone else out there who has had INTACS for mild/moderate KC, who could help me to understand better what to expect, and how long it takes?

[GarethB]

Hi Stephen,

Welcome to the forum, I am sure I speak for others when I say we would be very interested in how you get on with intacts as my understanding is that it is not that common in the UK.

In the US it is very common and we get posters from all round the world.

I would imaging as your sight changes, it is possible to have the lens changed to a plain uncorrecting one until the ey has properly settled. That was the case for me when I had my second graft and that eye was still changing but the first graft was nicely settled.

For me the only way to tolerate lenses is to use a lubricating eye drop that puts a small barrier between the eye and the lens and also coats the eye lid too. Others have only achieved lens tolerance by using a plain soft lens with the KC correcting RGP lens on top often refferd to as piggy backing.

Do please keep us regularly updated on how the vision wth intacts changes for better or worse over the coming days weeks and months.

Regards

Gareth

[Amarpal]

Hello Stephen, that was very interesting to read. Gareth is right- intacs in the UK are pretty rare at the moment. U am also quite surprised that you were given intacs after only a few years of KC, I always thought that intacs were given a little later on. Please do let us know how you progress with your intacs- I am eager to find out more!

[Vicky Houston]

I had Intacs put in last November although i have little improvement and in this weather am finding that my eye is drying out more than usual and am needing to put in lots of tears! Initialy i had an improvement in my vision but it was not as drastic as i had hoped so have been a little disapointed in the outcome. i have now gained greater photophobia and strong halo effects so find getting around in the dark quiet hard.

One good thing has been i now find my RGP easier to wear.

I have spoken to other people who have had Intacs and they have had great improvements so i think they are a good thing to try and hope you have a better outcome with yours.

[Andrew MacLean]

Stephen and Vicky

Like gareth and Arampal I am in the "not having had INTACS brigade." I think that the development came too late for me.

Like others I am very interested in the progress of those who have had this procedure.

All the best to you both!

Andrew