Keratoconus is more common now than ever before. Once thought to occur in 1 in 2000 people, keratoconus symptoms now affect 1 in 500 people.  The reason for this dramatic increase is not clear.

There is help for you to improve your vision and end the anxiety and suffering. Once you learn about keratoconus causes with keratoconus specialist Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler, you can explore the various treatment options, including Intacs and collagen cross linking.

Intacs® are clear, thin prescription inserts placed in the periphery of the cornea (under the surface) by an ophthalmologist during a brief outpatient procedure. Intacs for the treatment of keratoconus is an FDA-approved procedure.

To achieve maximum impact on Keratoconus and improvement in your vision, Dr. Brian typically combines Intacs^® with the Holcomb C3-R^® Crosslinking System (two techniques for Keratoconus that he invented). Most patients have both procedures performed which are typically done on the same day.

Dr. Brian pioneered Intacs for Keratoconus and was the first surgeon in the world (except for France) to do this procedure for Keratoconus in 1999.  He'll typically perform more Intacs procedures in a single week than a number of surgeons will perform in a whole year. We have 25-30 out-of-town patients fly in for Dr. Brian to treat them each month.

Dr. Brian's technique and his large research study were used by the FDA as part of their approval. The FDA adopted part of his procedure guidelines for the approved Intacs technique which is the basis for instructional courses used to train other surgeons around the world.

How Do Intacs^® Work?

Intacs^® reshape the curvature of the cornea from within, enhancing the natural shape of the eye to correct mild nearsightedness. Because no tissue is removed, natural optics are enhanced without detracting from the structural integrity of the cornea.

A curved glide creates a channel in the periphery of the cornea by gently separating the tissue layers. One or two tiny plastic segments (Intacs^®) are placed in the channel much like placing a pencil in between the pages of a book. This causes the cornea to flatten which help to achieve more clear vision.

Using the L-U^® ophthalmic tool to measure corneal irregularly, we found that Intacs improve the irregular corneal shape. This typically translates into improved vision with less distortions, glare, and streaking of lights.

Individual results may vary. Intacs^® can be exchanged or removed if needed.

Benefits of Intacs^® for Keratoconus:

• Outpatient 7-minute procedure (in Dr. Brian's hands)
• Sharper vision, less glare, less distortions, less double/mulitple images
• Improved quality of vision, IMPROVED NIGHT VISION
• Removable, exchangeable
• Less invasive than cornea transplantand help prevent cornea transplants when combined with Holcomb C3-R^®
• Doesn't preclude one from undergoing a corneal transplant in the future if needed

Potential Risks of Intacs^® for Keratoconus:

• Foreign body sensation
• Glare/halos
• Infection
• No improvement
• Sub-optimal vision

Not everyone with keratoconus will be a candidate for the Intacs^® procedure. An eye doctor experienced with Intacs^® can determine if you are a candidate.      Dr. Brian frequently evaluates patients in his clinic for this purpose.

Patients fly from all over the U.S, Canada, and other countries because they want "The Keratoconus Guru" to treat them, and won't settle for anything less. Your eyes are very precious. If another eye surgeon has offered to perform Intacs on you, you may want to ask about experience and does the surgeon know how to plan the Intacs surgery or does your surgeon have to send your information to outside consultant to be told how to do the Intacs procedure? 

Specifically ask your surgeon 1) if 1 or 2 segments will be used, 2) what thickness will be used, and 3) what location will Intacs^® be placed?  You will have an idea about level of experience with answers to those questions, especially if your surgeon needs to send your information to an outside consultant for advice.  Does your surgeon perform the Holcomb C3-R^® Crosslinking System COMBINED with Intacs^® to achieve maximum Keratoconus reversal? (Intacs^® without Holcomb C3-R^® only addresses 50% of the Keratoconus problem.)  These are important questions to ask yourself since you only have one pair of eyes - and with Keratoconus, the disease needs to be halted and vision improved in the BEST possible manner.

The expertise required for planning and performing Intacs^® for successful results is as complex and intricate as performing successful brain surgery or fixing a problem in a rocket engine.  It takes years and years of experience and performing thousands of cases to truly master Intacs^® - certainty not a few surgeries a month.  There is no substitute for experience in brain surgery, rocket engine repairs, and Intacs^®.

Dr. Brian is considered one of the world's masters of Intacs^® because he pioneered Intacs^® for Keratoconus in 1999 AND because he has performed many thousands of these procedures. 

As the pioneer of Intacs^® for Keratoconus and "the doctor's doctor", Dr. Brian has been doing Intacs for Keratoconus over 13 years, which is longer than any other eye surgeon in the world (except for France). 

If you live out-of-town, Dr. Brian can review your chart notes ahead of time to make a preliminary determination as to whether Intacs^® may be beneficial.

Listen to Norris’ experience 3 years after treatment.

For over 12 years, Dr. Brian has been performing Intacs procedures many times per week, which is more than a number of surgeons perform in a year.  You can feel confident with him.  Would you really trust your eyes to someone who only does one Intacs procedure a month or just a couple times

a year?

CHART REVIEW AND CONSULTATION FOR

OUT-OF-TOWN PATIENTS

Many out-of-town patients would like Dr. Brian to do a complimentary review of their medical records and make a preliminary determination of candidacy. This is useful before planning a trip to Beverly Hills.

Some people's friends ask them, "Why are you thinking of travelling to Beverly Hills for your eye procedure?"  They typically answer with, "I deserve the BEST and I want to go to the BEST doctor!!"

These are the three easy steps for your complimentary chart review with Dr. Brian:

• Along with your last 2 or 3 eye exams, please be sure to include a color copy of your corneal mapping. Color corneal mapping is a very important tool, along with your exam history, to determine your candidacy. The last 2 years of your total eye history will be used to make this preliminary determination.
  
  
• Inside the envelope, please be sure to include a cover sheet with your name address, phone number and email address and the words, “Keratoconus Record Review”, so that we may optimize communication with you.
  
  
• Enclose with your letter a copy of your records.
  
  Mail to:
  Boxer Wachler Vision Institute

           Keratoconus Record Review
           465 N. Roxbury Drive, Suite 902
           Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Or you can scan your records and email them to info@boxerwachler.com.

           Dr. Brian will contact you to discuss the review.

Keratoconus is the thinning and bulging of the cornea. Treatments include Intacs^®, Holcomb C3-R^®, cornea collagen cross linking, and if keratoconus progresses to a serious level, cornea transplantation. Dr Brian Boxer Wachler is a specialist in keratoconus evaluation and treatment.