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Treatments at Siesper Laser Eyecare
Ask the Doctor your INTACS Questions LASIK Cataract
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Eye Surgery
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| Theresa Leets,
Attorney*
Studio City, California
Hobbies: biking, golf,
in-line skating, jogging, traveling
Before: 20/100 right eye,
20/63 left eye
Intacs
Vision: 20/12.5 right eye, 20/12.5 left
eye |
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Marc Chouinard*,
Plant Manager
Portland, Oregon Hobbies:
skiing, fishing
Before: 20/125 right eye,
20/40 left eye
Intacs
Vision: 20/12.5 right eye, 20/12.5 left
eye |
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Joanne Evans*,
Paramedic
St. Louis, Missouri Hobbies:
scuba diving, painting
Before: 20/125 right eye,
20/80 left eye
Intacs
Vision: 20/16 right eye, 20/16 left
eye |
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Curt Kempf*,
Systems Programmer*
Columbia, Missouri Hobbies:
woodworking, running
Before: 20/125 right eye,
20/63 left eye
Intacs
Vision: 20/20 right eye, 20/16 left
eye |
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Philadelphia Intacs
INTACS™
  are
the first FDA approved option for correcting mild myopia (nearsightedness)
that does not require a laser. Intacs can treat myopia
from –1.00 to-3.00 diopters with no more than 1 diopter
of astigmatism. Intacs are two tiny, virtually invisible,
arcs made of biocompatible plastic that are placed between
the layers of your cornea. Intacs reshape the cornea
without removing tissue from the central optical zone, the
area of the cornea most critical for clear vision. This subtle
reshaping makes nearsighted corneas flatter, thereby correcting
vision. Intacs are usually placed in the eye permanently,
but can removed or replaced if needed.
Benefits of INTACS™
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FDA-approved
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Non-laser procedure
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Immediate improvement in
vision
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Maintenance-free correct vision
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Excellent visual results
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Tissue is not removed from
the central cornea,
the region most critical to your vision
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Greater flexibility, because
Intacs can be
removed or replaced–unlike laser surgery |
What Are The Risks?
 Intacs
are two tiny half rings designed to permanently correct vision
when placed within the eye. They are made of a
special biocompatible plastic that has been safely used in
contact lenses and cataract surgery for nearly 50 years. They’re
small–very small. Inside the cornea, they’re practically
invisible–and they cannot be felt. Intacs corneal
ring segments are the result of nearly a decade of clinical
research and have been available in other countries for several
years.
 How Do They Work?
Simply, Intacs gently change the shape
of your cornea to correct your vision. In the nearsighted
eye, the curve of the cornea is too steep. Light rays entering
the eye are bent too much and are focused improperly. As a
result, things far away appear blurry. Intacs change
the shape of the cornea, allowing the light rays to focus
correctly. But unlike laser surgery, which reshapes the cornea
by removing tissue from the center, Intacs are placed
in the outer edge–leaving the central cornea intact.
Why is this so important? Virtually all light that enters
your eye passes through the central cornea in order to be
focused. For this reason, the central cornea is crucial to
crisp, clear vision.
Visual Results with
Are Excellent. In U.S. clinical studies, 74% of people with
Intacs saw 20/20 or better. Discuss your own potential
results with your eyecare professional. 
Who Qualifies for
? You do, if:
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Your prescription for eyeglasses or contacts
is between -1.00 and -3.00 diopters, with no more than
1.00 diopter of astigmatism. (Ask your eyecare professional
for your current prescription.) |
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You have healthy eyes, free from disease
or injuries |
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You have had stable vision for one year |
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You are at least 21 years of age |
The Procedure The procedure for Intacs placement is
quick and simple. After using drops to numb your eye, your
eye doctor will make a tiny incision in the cornea.
Intacs are then placed between the layers of the cornea–in
the outer edge away from the center. Visual improvement is apparent soon after Intacs
are inserted. On average, most people resume normal activities
within two to three days of the procedure. With any surgical procedure, there is some risk.
Clinical studies in the U.S. showed that infection, which
is a risk with any surgical procedure, occurred 0.2% of the
time with Intacs. Some patients experienced difficulty
with night vision, glare, halos, blurry or double vision and
fluctuating distance vision. If the results of the procedure
are not satisfactory, you may need to have your Intacs
removed or replaced. Be sure to discuss potential benefits
and risks in detail with your eyecare professional. 
* Real data from real people.
Your results may vary.
** U.S. clinical study results. Your results may vary.
 Philadelphia Intacs Surgery
Intacs Questions
Q. What are Intacs™?
Q. What are the advantages of Intacs™?
Q. Who is a candidate for Intacs™?
Q. Who is not a candidate for Intacs™?
Q. What are Intacs™ made of?
Q. What is the difference between Intacs™ and other refractive procedures?
Q. How do Intacs™ work?
Q. What are Intacs™?
A. Intacs™ corneal ring segments are the revolutionary way to correct mild nearsightedness—without having to undergo laser surgery. They provide an alternative to eyeglasses, contact lenses and surgical procedures that permanently alter the eye by cutting or removing tissue from the central cornea.
Intacs™ are two tiny half rings. To get an idea of how small they are, just imagine a contact lens where the center part has been removed and only the very outer edge remains; then imagine this ring divided into two equal halves. That’s how tiny Intacs™ are. They are made of a special biocompatible plastic that has been safely used in contact lenses and cataract surgery for nearly 50 years. When placed in the periphery of the cornea, they are practically invisible—and they cannot be felt. Intacs reshape corneal curvature without removing tissue from the central optical zone, the area of the cornea that is most critical for clear vision. This subtle reshaping makes nearsighted corneas flatter, thereby correcting vision.
Intacs™ are the result of nearly a decade of clinical research and have been available in other countries for several years.
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Q. What are the advantages of Intacs™?
A. Intacs™ offer several key advantages:
- Intacs™ are a safe and effective means to correcting mild nearsightedness.
- Intacs™ are FDA-approved, unlike some laser procedures.
- Intacs™ offer an immediate improvement in vision.
- Intacs™ provide excellent results. In U.S. clinical studies, 97% of patients saw 20/40 or better with Intacs™, 74% saw 20/20 or better, and 53% saw 20/16 or better.
- Intacs™ are maintenance-free.
- Tissue is not removed from the central optical zone, the region of the cornea most important for clear vision.
- Intacs™ offer greater flexibility, because they can be removed or replaced—unlike laser surgery
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Q. Who is a candidate for Intacs™?
A. Intacs™ are currently available for people with mild myopia (nearsightedness) who have no more than 1.00 diopter of astigmatism. The best way to find out if you are a candidate for Intacs™ is to consult an eye doctor who is trained to perform the procedure.
You may qualify for Intacs™, if:
- Your prescription for eyeglasses or contacts is between –1.00 and –3.00 diopters, with no more than 1.00 diopter of astigmatism. If you don’t know your current prescription, we can schedule you for a complimentary examination and consultation;
- You have healthy eyes, free from disease or injuries;
- You have had stable vision for at least one year; and
- You are at least 21 years of age.
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Q. Who is not a candidate for Intacs™?
A. You should not have Intacs™ placed if:
- You have autoimmune or immunodeficiency diseases (lupus, rheumatoid arthritis or AIDS, for example);
- You are pregnant or nursing;
- You have known conditions of the eye that may increase the possibility of future problems; or
- You are taking prescription medications that may affect corneal healing or your vision.
Be sure to discuss your medical history and all prescription and over-the-counter medications that you take with your eye doctor. It is important to advise your eye doctor if you have had a Herpes infection in your eyes or if you have insulin-dependent diabetes or other medical conditions that affect wound healing.
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Q. What are Intacs™ made of?
A. Intacs™ consist of two tiny, clear, ultra-thin, precision-engineered crescents made of the same medical polymer (polymethylmetha-crylate, or PMMA) that has been safely used in eyes for almost 50 years for contact lenses and the intraocular lenses that cataract patients receive. Intacs™ are designed for permanent placement in the eye, but they also are removable.
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Q. What is the difference between Intacs™ and other refractive procedures?
A. Intacs™ are designed to be placed in the outer edge of the cornea away from the "central optical zone." Because nearly all the light that reaches the retina must pass through the central optical zone, it is the part of your cornea most important for clear vision. Therefore, it is essential not to damage the central optical zone. The procedure for placement of Intacs™ does not cut or remove tissue from the central optical zone. This makes the procedure quite different from refractive surgical procedures that permanently alter the central cornea. Intacs are also removable and replaceable.
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Q. How do Intacs™ work?
A. Simply, Intacs™ gently change the shape of your cornea to correct your vision. In the nearsighted eye, the curve of the cornea is too steep. Light rays entering the eye are bent too much and are focused in front of the retina—instead of on it. As a result, things far away appear blurry. Intacs™ change the shape of the cornea, allowing the light rays to focus on the retina. But unlike laser surgery, which reshapes the cornea by removing tissue from the center, Intacs™ are placed in the outer edge—leaving the central optical zone intact.
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