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Intracorneal Ring Segments (ICRS) Implantation

A device for reducing or eliminating myopia and astigmatism in patients with keratoconus.

What is ICRS?

ICRS is an ophthalmic medical device designed for the reduction or elimination of myopia and astigmatism in patients with keratoconus so that their functional vision may be restored and the need for a corneal transplant procedure can potentially be deferred.

ICRS implantation, on average, improves two-line visual acuity in 50% of patients with keratoconus, although some patients may have a more pronounced improvement. In fact, patients who before surgery did not have good vision with glasses due to the loss of corneal irregularity, typically enjoy better vision with new glasses after ring implantation.

Advantages of ICRS

  • Causes no histological changes in the central cornea and maintain the natural state of cornea
  • Potential reversibility to the situation before the surgery – they can be removed if needed.

Before the Procedure

Prior to any surgical procedure, it is common to experience a degree of anticipation and anxiety. It may be comforting to know that the intracorneal segments procedure is far less invasive than a corneal transplant or many other surgical procedures of the eye and the success rate is high. The surgeons performing the procedure are typically corneal surgeons, that have expertise with keratoconus.

Typically, your ophthalmologist will have you undergo a thorough eye examination, which includes a variety of standard ophthalmic tests for this type of procedure, as well as general medical tests and a review of your specific medical history.

During the Procedure

  • Anesthetic drops are used to numb the eye, which is held open throughout the procedure to prevent blinking.
  • Channels to receive the ICRS are created by means of a high precise femtosecond laser.
  • The implants are gently placed.
  • The placement of the ICRS reshape and reinforce the cornea, eliminating some or all of the irregularities caused by keratoconus and thus improving vision.

After the Procedure

Follow-up visits will be required to monitor the healing process and evaluate the visual benefits of the procedure. Even after a successful procedure, glasses or contacts may still be required to provide you with good vision.

As with any surgical procedure, some risks are involved, including infection. Some patients experience visual symptoms which include difficulty with night vision, glare, halos, blurry and fluctuating vision.

ICRS are specially designed implants, made of medical plastic, which are surgically placed under the surface of the cornea. Due to their unique patented design, they are able to remodel the architecture of the cornea re-establishing a more natural dome-like shape and improving one’s vision.

Risks & Complications

Although the practice of intracorneal ring segments has been approved by the FDA in the USA, it should be known that similar to other refractive correction procedures, it can have some side effects. The most important ones are:

  • Postoperative infections
  • Hypo-correction
  • Hyper-correction
  • Halos, glare, and fluctuating distance vision., especially at night
  • Light sensitivity
  • Night vision difficulty
  • Corneal oedema

In general, no vision-threatening complications due to ICRS have been observed.

Other Treatments

Learn More

Refractive Lens Exchange

Replacing the natural lens of your eye, and inserting a tailor made lens that can help you see from near and far distances without the use of spectacles.

Cataract Extraction

Removing the cloudy lens, and replacing it with a premium lens for a better visual outcome.

Phakic Lens Implantation

Inserting a small lens beneath the surface of the eye for those having high myopia and wanting to get rid of their glasses or contact lenses.

Intracorneal Ring Segments (ICRS) Implantation

Inserting an ophthalmic medical device for reducing or eliminating myopia and astigmatism in patients with keratoconus.

Ready to correct your vision?