LASIK Surgery
in Nashville, Tennessee
Seeing Is Believing
By Sameh Fahmy Staff Writer
June 22, 2004
New corneal surgery option gives hope to people with potentially blinding condition
A new corneal surgery is offering people with a potentially blinding condition known as keratoconus a new chance at sight.
In people with keratoconus, the normally basketball-shaped cornea bulges out to a shape that resembles the tip of a football. This abnormal shape prevents it from focusing light properly, but in most cases hard contact lenses can improve vision. Until now, the only hope for severe cases was corneal transplant surgery, which carries a lifetime risk of graft rejection.
A new option called Intacs corneal inserts can actually stop the disease from progressing, says Dr. Ming Wang, staff surgeon at Saint Thomas Hospital and director of Wang Vision Institute.
Like internal tent poles, the implants reshape the cornea from a cone-like shape to a more normal dome-like shape.
Late last month, Steve Howell, 45, of Sparks, Tennessee, became the first person to have an implant placed in his left eye using an incision cut with a laser. His vision has improved, but he likely will still require correction with either glasses or contact lenses.
The most important benefit of the surgery, Wang says, is that unlike hard contact lenses, it prevents the condition from worsening.
''His disease is being arrested,'' Wang said, ''and that means he is no longer on the path to corneal transplantation.''
Contact us
Wang Vision
615-321-8881
1801 W. End Ave., 11th Floor
Nashville, TN 37203
The Wang Vision Institute provides laser vision correction & LASIK eye surgery to patients in the Nashville, Tennessee area. This site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be medical advice. If you would like professional medical advice about any laser eye surgery procedure, schedule an appointment to join our next Free LASIK Seminar in Nashville, TN.
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