If you are nearsighted then the curve of your cornea is steeper than average. This causes the light rays that enter your eye to bend too much which in turn causes them to focus in the front of the retina. Objects that are far away are blurry. Some patients that have very mild myopia or nearsightedness can actually function without contact lenses or glasses for some tasks but for the most part, lenses are required for everyday functioning. Intacts are designed for those who have slight myopia as well as mild astigmatism. They gently enhance the shape of the cornea and allow light rays to focus correctly, thus producing clearer vision.
Intacts are inserted on the sides of the cornea to gently reshape the cornea’s top layer. This allows enough light rays to enter the eyes and help to bring about clearer focus. Most patients who receive intacts have perfect vision after the procedure. Intacts are different than laser eye surgery. Intacts, unlike Lasik and other surgical procedures, do not change the cornea or remove tissue from the eye. They are currently the only procedure that helps to strengthen the structure and maintain the natural shape of the cornea. They can be removed and/or replaced as needed or desired and offer more flexibility for eyesight changes in the future such as those that come with age.
Those who are considering intacts as vision correction should discuss the pros and cons with a regular eye doctor. Overall, this procedure allows those with slight myopia to enjoy crisper and clearer vision without the need for contacts and glasses and without undergoing invasive surgery. Read more about Intacts.
