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Intacs, cross-linking together reduce astigmatism
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SAN FRANCISCO —When used together, the combination of Intacs intracorneal ring segments and corneal collagen cross-linking can reduce astigmatism in myopic eyes more than cross-linking alone, according to Richard L. Lindstrom, MD.
“Every physician has to use their own judgment and personalize treatment,” Lindstrom said in a symposium sponsored by Avedro and CorneaGen during the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.
In certain patients, Lindstrom first implants a single Intacs intracorneal ring segment before cross-linking is done, for example, in a patient with at least 4 D of myopia and 3 D of astigmatism or in a patient with anisometropia.
“If one eye is at a level where you might be satisfied with collagen cross-linking and the typical 1 D of flattening but the other eye is perhaps 3 D or 4 D more myopic, it turns out that doing Intacs on the eye that is more myopic can balance things out quite nicely,” Lindstrom said. “On average we can get 2 D to 3 D of corneal flattening and so reduce the astigmatism.”
Intacs have advantages of being minimally invasive with a short recovery period, and the procedure is reversible, he said.
“Intacs are a more powerful tool than cross-linking alone, and the two can be synergistic and additive,” Lindstrom said. – by Patricia Nale, ELS
Disclosure: Lindstrom reports he has consulted for Avedro, CXLO and CorneaGen.