Intra-Corneal ring Segments

Also known as INTACS, this form of eye surgery involves the placing of special plastic rings (‘Intra-Corneal ring Segments’) on the cornea which changes its shape and so improves vision.

These rings are inserted into the cornea and can be removed at any time.

This treatment is used to correct myopia (short-sightedness).

What is an ‘ICR?’
How does it differ from laser eye procedures such as LASIK?
Who should consider ICR?
What are the risks of ICR?
What are the benefits of ICR?
What should I ask the surgeon at the consultation?
How much does ICR cost?
What is the ICR procedure?
How long do the effects of ICR last for?
What does recovery from ICR involve?

What is an ‘ICR?’

ICR or Intra-Corneal Ring Segments are a form of corneal implant and are considered to be a new addition to the field of refractive surgery. They are small, clear acrylic rings which are implanted into the front of the cornea.

This has the effect of flattening the cornea and reducing short-sightedness.

They are also known as ‘Intrastromal Corneal Rings’.

How does it differ from laser eye procedures such as LASIK? (H3)

The main difference is that this treatment does not involve the removal of corneal tissue as happens with LASIK and other similar procedures.

With ICR, the surgeon uses a diamond blade to make a small incision within the cornea. He/she then inserts the rings into this incision. These rings then rest between the corneal layers.

What you will find is that some clinics carry out this procedure with a laser rather than a diamond blade. They will the state of the art Intralase femtosecond laser which is used in the advanced forms of LASIK such as Wavefront.

Check with your clinic as to whether they use a blade or a bladeless device such as the femtosecond laser.

Who should consider ICR? (H3)

If you have a mild form of short-sightedness or have been refused laser eye surgery such as LASEK/LASEK or PRK then consider ICR.

You may have been advised against laser eye correction due to having thin corneas; or you may not feel confident about the outcome of laser eye surgery. In these cases, ICR is a good option.

This is a suitable procedure for patients with myopia (short-sight) but be aware that the eye surgeon will take a range of factors into account before making a decision. He or she will look at your lifestyle, age, state of health (general and eye) and your motivation for this surgery.

If your eyes have not changed within the last year or so (stable prescription), you are over 21 and have no underlying diseases or conditions then ICR will be recommended.

What could rule you out? If you are pregnant or are currently breastfeeding, have an eye disease/injury or an auto-immune system deficiency or illness then the surgeon will advise you not to have this surgery.

What are the risks of ICR?

Every form of eye surgery – laser assisted or not is safe and effective, but they all have a small degree of risk. Risks and complications tend to be rare but they can happen.

In the main, the risks or complications of ICR are:

Glare
Halos
Starbursts
Over correction
Under correction
Infection
Astigmatism (induced)
Problems with night vision
Double or blurred vision
Distance vision can fluctuate

Your surgeon will discuss these along with the benefits of this surgery during your consultation.

What are the benefits of ICR?

These include improved short-sightedness and clear vision as a whole. No tissue is cut or removed unlike other procedures. There is little downtime (recovery) with this procedure.

Plus, the ICR’s/INTACS can be replaced with new ones if your sight changes. And, because these are inserted into the corneal layer you won’t notice them or feel any sensation of them.

What should I ask the surgeon at the consultation?

You are likely to have a range of questions for the surgeon and it can help by preparing a list of these before the consultation. It is very easy to go in there and forget what might be a vitally important question so write them down beforehand.

To help with this, question 23 in our ‘Laser Eye Surgery: General FAQS’ section contains advice and a list of suggested questions. These include:

How many operations have you performed and how often?
What qualifications do you have?
What are the risks?
What are your success rates?
What can I expect?

And many more.

How much does ICR cost?

Prices do vary between clinics for a variety of reasons. These can include the surgeon’s fees, the technology used, and the aftercare.

It is a good idea to contact several clinics to see what they charge.

As a rough guide, ICR/INTACS can cost £2,000 per eye.

What is the ICR procedure?

You will be given anaesthetic eye drops (local anaesthetic) which help to numb the eye. Your eye will also be held open via a special clip to prevent any blinking.

The surgeon will then make a tiny incision in the cornea and will also create two channels.

He/she will insert these clear synthetic rings into the channels. The rings are then rotated into position and will flatten the centre of the cornea. Think of this as a sandwich with the rings as the ‘filling’.

This is a quick procedure which takes around 15 minutes in total.

How long do the effects of ICR last for?

The effects are long lasting. Even in your vision changes, you can still wear ICR’s – the old ones being replaced with new ones.

Basically, they stay in place as long as you want. If you feel that there is no benefit from this treatment then the rings can simply be removed.

What does recovery from ICR involve?

You may find that your eyes feel ‘gritty’ or ‘itchy’ in the first few hours after surgery. This irritation can last for a day or so although you will be given eye drops to deal with this. Keep taking these eye drops until otherwise recommended.

You will be able to return to work and resume normal activities a couple of days after surgery.