UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

My son is 17 and has an appointment to have intacs,another doctor advised me against this as they are new and there are problems with them.The doctor told me he should go for cxl,Im confused can anyone advise me on this matter please.

CXL is not universally available on the NHS. There are clinics offering the treatment as part of a trial.

INTACS is available on the NHS, but in many places the two are offered as part of an overall treatment package. sometimes INTACS surgery is conducted first then CXL, and sometimes the other way round.

The problem is that none of us has seen your son's eyes through the slit lamp. You have to find a surgeon whom you trust and take the advice he or she gives. If you are still unhappy, ask for a second opinion within the NHS.

Every good wish

Andrew

Hi Magpie,

In my opinion your consultant is very much mistaken, Intacs have been around for longer than CXL which is why it has been through the NICE consultation process which has remended that it be available to us on the NHS. With Intacs we know what the side effects are and we are startig to know the long term effects with some people, as far as CXL goes we don't know really much about short term effects or the long term effects, especially as the cornea ages and stiffens naturally. CXL you are effectively aging the cornea by some quite consderable years, so what would be the effect on someone of your sons age when he reaches his 40's?

CXL is newer and has gone through a preliminary consultation process where they recomended further research be conducted (which is why some NHS hospitakls are running trials) before they (NICE) review the procedure again to see if it should be made available on the NHS.

Intacs require a cornea to be at least 450 microns thick where as CXL requires the cornea to be atleast 400 microns thick which will affect the options available to you.

You have nothing to loose by asking for a second opinion.