advice on intacs

[andygoodall]

Hello there ,im new to this site and am looking for some advice please. i was diagnosed with KC 2 years ago whilst a serving member of the Royal Marines i got very little help from the armed forces hospital and as i am now a civilian they dont want anything to do with me i was told to get on the NHS serving queen and country indeed.
Anyway i have decided to go and see a specialist down in London a company called LCRS i was wondering if anybody out there has had any dealings with them or anything to report at all.
Also i am looking into getting intacs as i am having massive issues with the specialist contact lenses i was given in the forces. Is there anybody out there that has had the intact op what was it like has it helped is it worth it? Thank you
Andy G

[chrism]

I had INTACS placed in my left (more severe) eye. The procedure itself was pretty straight forward (about 30 minutes total for the procedure itself) and there was no pain. A bit of scratchiness for a few days after, but otherwise uneventful.

I didn't get any vision improvement out of it, but my surgeon and OD both say that my cornea is much flatter and is easier to fit with lenses.

Depending on how advanced your KC is, you may be in the same situation. The milder cases tend to be the ones that get any vision improvement, if at all. That said, I primarily did it to halt the progression of KC and put off a graft for as long as possible. I had no expectations for improvement in vision.

You may also be surprised with all the current lens options that are available, too. You may be able to get some very comfortable lenses fit by your new specialist.

[GarethB]

Andy,

The RAF diagnosed my KC when I was going through the application process. They reffered me to the NHS because they said they are aware of the condition but do not have the skills for its long term management.

I would explore your local NHS system as they probably have greater access and experience of KC than the medical dept in the forces. There are so many differnt lens options that may help you and it will be cheaper too.

Any surgery to the eye for KC has the aim of chaning the corneal surface to help vision corection with glasses or contact lenses. So going for intacs may still mean you have a need for contact lenses.

Have a look in the Frequently Asked Questions section, there are notes I took at a presentation given by a Birmingham opthalmologist on Intacs.

[Andrew MacLean]

Andy

See my response to your post of March 5.

Are you no further forward with your enquiries?

Andrew

[Karl R]

Is there anybody out there that has had the intact op what was it like has it helped is it worth it? Thank you
Andy G

Have a look at my posts here following my INTACS operation. I wouldn't give up on the NHS just yet, a little perseverance pays off as it took me 13 months to get my operation.