Intacs

[Jigs Patel]

Hi,

I am a new member to this society bt have been suffering/diagnosed with KC for at least 4 years. i have just read about a treatment procedure called INTACS. Just wondering if anyone has had this form of treatment and their pros and cons about it? To be honest I am quite fed up with wearing contacts. Currently I am studying physiotherapy part time two days and working the other three days. After working a full day I find I have the energy to study but my lenses are irratating me so much I have to take them out thereby finding it extremely difficult, almost impossible to study. Would be really grateful for your input.

Cheers
Jigs

[Andrew MacLean]

Jigs

Welcome to the forum. It is good to meet you.

INTACS is still quite a new treatment for Keratoconus and in the UK it is only now becoming more widely vailable on the NHS. I know that at least one Glasgow consultant has gone to his Ethics committee with a proposal for a pilot in Scotland.

You can find more about the actual procedure here

(link removed at site owner's request by Moderator LonghoC 06/06/14)

Be careful when looking at sites on the internet. Sometimes the proprietors of the site are trying to sell you a service; you have to decide whether you want to buy!

What hospital do you attend. has your consultant reccomended INTACS?

Let us know how you get on.

[Sweet]

Hello there. Intacs are something i haven't had done. Just wanted to say about you posting about finding lenses difficult? From what i understand of intacs they do not actually correct your vision, but would hopefully make it easier for you to wear lenses.

Wishing you all the best whatever you decide, Sweet X x X

[jayuk]

Jigs

Welcome to the forum

Intacs seem to be kinda hit and miss, and the only consolation that there is, is that they can be removed. However there are other issues around them which I am certain your consultant will/should point out.

A member on this forum, Kathy Hobkirk had Intacs performed

Her Log is posted here

Kathy's Intacs

HTH

Jay

[Jigs Patel]

Hi Guys,

Thank you very much for those replies. It made me feel as I have someone on my side. I read about Intacts through my brother. He had laser surgery carried out on both his eyes (non KC sufferer) and bought home a brochure that said that Intacts can be carried out on a patient with KC. I am a patient in Bedford hospital where I am seen by a contact lens practioner. Compared to some peoples experince of NHS trusts I have not had that much of a raw deal, until recently. I was sent some lenses by the hospital and when I put them in my eye they were fine and vision was also fine. The problem was that for the life of me I couldn't take them out. I eventually had to sleep with them in and then go to my local NHS walk in centre and ask them to take the lenses out. This then happened to three more pairs of lenses they sent. The Nurses at the centre were so used to seeing me I was on their Xmas card list. Apparently the hospital have changed the material they use, probably a cheap version. Currently the lenses I wear are not giving me the best vision and are not very comfortable after a few hours. This is why I was considering the Intacts option. Its carried out by a private company http://www.optimax.co.uk.

Cheers
Jigs
ps sorry about the essay

[GarethB]

Jigs,

For me the reasonlenses become hard to take out is down to the hydration of the cornea and the poor quality of the tears I produce.

Since using eye drops, Systane in my case and ensuring I drink at least 2 litees of water per day, lens comfort is much improved and they come out nice and easy.

It took me and the hospital six months to sot this, but I went from a 2 hour lens wear to where I am now with 12 hours plus.

The history given is brief and I m no priofessional, but it may be worth exploring the route I have taken.

[Andrew MacLean]

Jigs

I'd not run too quickly to the conclusion that a change of material in your lens is to a cheap version. It may be that the contact lens clinic was trying to find a lens style and material that suits your needs better.

In the years that I wore lenses I had several changes, sometimes of size, usually of 'steepness' and occasionally of materials, all to try to keep a lens in my eye.

Even after they had advised I go for a graft and I had refused, they kept on trying to find a lens that I could wear with comfort. This usually meant an escalation of cost, rather than a cost cutting exercise.

Like Gareth I ended up using artificial tears to hydrate my eye, although I did always check with the optometrist at the hospital that the drops were compatible with lens wear.

Andrew