Longer-term Feedback on Intacs / Chorneal rings for KC

[diegovas]

Hello, I've had intacs (chorneal ring) implants for KC for about two years now in both eyes and I would like to share my experience and obtain feedback from others.
Since the operation I had noticed that I could see the edge of the implants at low light, the doctor prescribed two different drops to limit the expansion of the pupils. This helps but I am a bit worried about the long term effect of this.
The KC, at least as the shape of the chornea is concerned, according to my doctor it has improved significantly. I beleive this has also improved my vision on my left eye if it was not for the other effects of the intacs.
In addition to the normal KC deformation/duplicate image and the glare I get from seeing the implants, I've noticed that I am increasingly seeing a hazy image, like if I was looking through a very thin veil. So far I have been unable to get any of the doctors I've consulted to explain to me the cause of this, or even to acknowledge that I'm not imagining things. I do not beleive this is a consequence of the implants, however.
The last doctor that I've consulted told me that calcium deposits have started to accumulate around the implants. I am unsure if this is related to the symptom above. He downplayed the importance of it. ¿?
I am always thinking about removing the intacs, but so far all doctors that I've consulted seem to agree that the implants are good and succesful, I do not necesarily agree, I see good and bad points, so I guess I am undecided. To be honest, I am quite worried about how my chornea would end up after removal, if any scars/marks. The doctors say that my KC would come back for sure, possibly worse.
Anyway, thank you for your feedback.

[Anne Klepacz]

Hello Diegovas and welcome,
Thank you for this feedback - we don't often get people reporting longer term results of Intacs or crosslinking so it's good to hear from you. I know seeing the edges of the implants at low light levels has been reported by other people. I guess people vary as to how much this bothers them. I haven't heard the haziness you mention described before. I hope some people who have had Intacs for a similar length of time to you will see this and tell us their experience. I'm puzzled by the doctor who told you that your KC would 'come back' if you had the implants removed. All the experts who have talked at our meetings say that Intacs don't stop KC progressing if it's going to - what they can do is flatten the cornea, improve the vision and make the fitting and tolerance of contact lenses easier.
Anne