Intacs, Before or After Collagen Crosslinking?

[Andrew MacLean]

karl

Impessive results from Intacs!

Thanks for your thoughtful post.

Andrew

[Karl R]

Theres a PM I wanted to send you Karl, just going to write it now

Have sent you a PM in reply.

karl

Impessive results from Intacs!

For me, yes the procedure has been a great success. However there is a caveat in that what worked well for me may not be as successful for another patient, there are too many individual factors which can determine the success of INTACS in patients to be able to categorically state that INTACS would be just as successful for another patient as it was for me.

Just a thought to bear in mind

[Andrew MacLean]

For me, yes the procedure has been a great success. However there is a caveat in that what worked well for me may not be as successful for another patient, there are too many individual factors which can determine the success of INTACS in patients to be able to categorically state that INTACS would be just as successful for another patient as it was for me.

Always an important point to remember! Sometimes people become a bit hyperbolic about the potential of a therapy; reading one success into a general promise. If only life were that easy!

Thanks Karl.

Andrew

[Riz1]

Thank you all for your kind words, you've all been very supportive.

I went for a consultation on Friday, and it was good news. I went to see David Jory at LCRS. He seemed to think that C3R would be a good choice for me as my KC is in its early stages. According to his figures 50% of his patients showed an improvement after treatment, and he thought that i probably wouldn't need Intacs after treatment.

Helen and Karl - Its really good to hear that you've both been successful with your treatment.

Karl, i didn't know that Intacs could stabilise KC, could you give me more details on this?
Cheers
Riz

[Karl R]

The only thing I can say is that on my last topography after the op, the surface of the cornea had flattened but the topography had changed little. In other words it had got no worse than pre op and no better than pre op.

The current thinking with my consultant is that whilst the topography hasn't effectively changed, there may have bee a large number of irregularities on the cornea which the INTACS have flattened out, thereby improving refraction.

As it is only 7 months since I had the INTACS inserted it is too early to say what the long term prognosis will be, but the early indications are promising.

[helen jones]

Hey Riz. I was seeing David Jory on Friday too for my follow up! Presume you've read my excited posting about the improvement in my vision.
Helen

[Riz1]

Wonderful! I didn't know you had your treatment done with David as well, so its reassuring to know you've been happy with your treatment with him.

Update:I've now decided to go ahead with the treatment, and will be going to get it done on the 22nd of October. Wish me luck!!

[Andrew MacLean]

Riz

All the best! I am sure that things will go well, and hope that you 'see' (in the literal as well as the proverbial sense) an early improvement.

Andrew

[BlackA]

Hello riz, just wanted to say a few words.

Your vision can get worse after the C3R but in the majority of cases improves. You probably could achieve the same vision you have now or even better and the contact fit would be easier. Furthermore you will probably have slightly less aberrations.

About which operation to do first I am pretty sure it is better to do the C3R first. I have heard the argument of the INTACS being less effective in a hardened cornea but never read a serious article about it. After the Crosslinking I would advise to wait for at least 6 months of unchanged cornea topography and then go for the INTACS. This is because the C3R changes the surface of the cornea permanently and can cause the previous implantation of INTACS unaccurate. There was a doctor in the last CCL congress that reported that he had to remove some INTACS after a C3R due to cornea change.

best luck