Hwang served as co-investigator of the clinical trial. The Intacs tm procedure takes about 15 minutes for each eye. A topical anesthetic is placed on the eye and a small device is used to prevent blinking. A tiny opening, less than 2 millimeters, is made near the upper edge of the cornea. Intacs tm are inserted through this tiny opening and placed within the peripheral cornea.
Patients usually notice improvement in vision immediately after surgery.
The treatment is not for everybody, Abbott said. Candidates for this procedure should be at least 21 years old and free of eye disease. The UCSF Beckman Vision Center combines world class vision research and clinical care. The research and multicenter clinical facilities are part of the UCSF Department of Ophthalmology. The center includes the Koret Vision Research Laboratory, the Vision Care Research Unit and the Comprehensive Eye Center.