What Are Intacs® Corneal Implants and How Do They Treat Keratoconus?

Updated

Intacs® Corneal Implants are small ophthalmic devices surgically placed inside the cornea to reduce or eliminate the nearsightedness (myopia) and astigmatism caused by keratoconus, with the goal of restoring functional vision and potentially deferring a corneal transplant. They are described on intacsforkeratoconus.com as the only FDA-approved intracorneal segments, made from polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and available in different thicknesses. They are an option for keratoconus patients whose vision is affected by the condition—not a cure for keratoconus itself.

What Keratoconus Does to the Cornea

Keratoconus is a disease that thins the cornea and causes it to progressively bulge into a cone-like shape. Because the cornea is the eye's clear front surface, this change in shape can dramatically distort vision. The site frames Intacs® as a way to improve vision before a cornea transplant is considered.

How Intacs® Work

The mechanism, as described on the site:

  • Placement: The segments are inserted into the corneal stroma—the middle layer of the cornea—through a small radial incision.
  • Location: They sit in the periphery of the cornea, outside the central optical zone, at approximately two-thirds depth.
  • Effect: Once in place, the product reshapes and stabilizes the cornea, which is what reduces or eliminates the myopia and astigmatism caused by keratoconus.
  • Reversibility: The implants are designed to allow removal or replacement.

A useful way to picture it: rather than removing or replacing the cornea, the segments act like small supports placed under the outer edge of a bulging surface, nudging the overall shape back toward something more regular while leaving the center of the eye's optics untouched.

What the Procedure Is and Is Not

Question What the site supports
Does it treat keratoconus itself? No—it is designed to reduce or eliminate myopia and astigmatism in keratoconus patients so functional vision may be restored
Can it replace a transplant? It may potentially defer the need for a corneal transplant; it is presented as an option to improve vision prior to considering a transplant
Is it approved? Described as the only FDA-approved intracorneal segments
Can it be undone? Yes—segments are designed to allow removal or replacement
What is it made of? PMMA, in multiple thicknesses

Who This Information Is For

This overview suits patients recently diagnosed with keratoconus, or their families, who want to understand what Intacs® are before a specialist consultation. The site separates content for Patients and Medical Professionals, so candidacy, expected outcomes, and risks are best confirmed with an eye care professional rather than from the website alone. The site does not publish pricing or eligibility criteria, so those questions belong in a consultation.