BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Aug. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Corneal ring segments, marketed under the name Intacs, received approval by the Food and Drug Administration for use in patients with this visually disabling condition.
The Intacs plastic inserts are placed during a painless, 10-minute procedure. "The procedure reverses the visual distortions caused by the severely misshapen cornea (keratoconus) by "pushing back" the bulge in the cornea itself. This leads to improved vision and enhanced ability to function again," according to pioneer surgeon Brian S. Boxer Wachler, MD, director of the Boxer Wachler Vision Institute in Beverly Hills, CA, the first and most experienced surgeon in the United States to insert Intacs for keratoconus.
"Prior to Intacs, thousands of patients with keratoconus had the only option of wearing hard-style contact lenses or face a very invasive cornea transplant," Boxer Wachler remarked. "FDA approval will now pave the way for countless patients who need help. This is a major advance for patients suffering from this terrible condition."
The FDA adopted Dr. Boxer Wachler's procedure guidelines for the approved surgical technique. Boxer Wachler and his research team published their technique and results last year in a landmark study in the peer-reviewed Ophthalmology journal, which is the largest study to date on Intacs for keratoconus.
According to Dr. Boxer Wachler, approximately one in 1,000 or one in 2,000 people in the United States suffer from keratoconus. More information can be found at http://www.keratoconusinserts.com/.
For further information, please contact Jennie Marie of Boxer Wachler Vision Institute, office, +1-310-860-1926, or cell, +1-310-435-7533.
Boxer Wachler Vision Institute
CONTACT: Jennie Marie of Boxer Wachler Vision Institute, office,+1-310-860-1926, or cell, +1-310-435-7533