CTAKS for Keratoconus in the Bay Area

The use of CTAKS importantly known as anterior lamellar keratoplasty to help patients with keratoconus achieve better uncorrected vision, but most importantly achieve better vision corrected with spectacles and possibly soft contact lenses is an important advancement in the treatment of Keratoconus.

Here, we will review the properties and characteristics of CTAKS. Specifically, what they are, the proper patient selection and who are the best candidates, as well as the realistic expectations for results so that you can review this in detail with your family.

CTAKS are similar to but different than Intacs.

Intacts are rigid plastic segments which are implanted in corneal tunnels made with the femtosecond laser in patients with keratoconus. Intacts, unlike CTAKS serve to stretch the cornea and flatten the cornea so as to mildly diminish both myopia and astigmatism. They can be effective but nowhere as effective or powerful as CTAKS in diminishing myopia and astigmatism.

CTAKS are vastly different than Intacs in that they are made of human tissue which is customized to be absolutely specific to the topography and configuration of each specific eye.

They are designed and crafted for each eye using Pentacam corneal images. Once an appropriate Pentacam image has been captured and sent to the company, the human corneal transplant tissue is fashioned by the company with a femtosecond laser and then gamma irradiated to ensure sterility and reduce chance of rejection.

They are designed to flatten the cornea and decrease both myopia and astigmatism. Its patient-specific design can diminish myopia by 10 D and astigmatism by 3 to 4 D at least.

Unlike Intacs which stretch the cornea, the CTAK is actually a true lamellar keratoplasty with human tissue which enhances corneal thickness thereby relieving pressure on the cornea and thickening the cornea into a more natural and stable configuration. These human tissue segments, like Intacs, are placed within the substance of the cornea in intracorneal lamellar tunnels which we create with the Femtosecond laser.

Specifically, a 360° mid-stromal tunnel is created around the cone with the Femtosecond laser. The CTAK segment is then placed within the corneal lamellar tunnel and positioned at a pre-determined location so as to maximally fortify the cornea in order to greatly diminish myopia and astigmatism.

In some cases, it allows for subsequent ( and often prior ) crosslinking and possibly even PRK to enhance the overall vision and comfort as well as preventing progression of the cone.

The recommended patients have cones with a maximum Kmax by Pentacam in the 50 to 70 D range. The CTAK segment is designed for moderate size cones that are less than 4 mm in width. They are not effective in cones which extend outside of the central 6 mm optical zone or in patients with pellucid. There can be no scarring in the central visual axis.

Because each CTAK is specifically designed for each eye in size, thickness, and inner and outer curvature and diameter, once ordered, it takes about six weeks to process by the company before delivery.

Realistically, this is not a way to make it so keratoconics no longer need glasses or contact lenses. However, it is realistic to expect the patient to become much more contact lens tolerant and even move from scleral or RGP lenses into soft lenses and commonly into glasses. In most cases, it significantly increases uncorrected vision as well.

Of course, CTAKS can never be considered a LASIK-type procedure whereby the patient is not required to use glasses or contact lenses.

We are proud to be offering this technology and welcome questions from eyecare professionals as well as patients.

As always, we will deliver this technology not only focused on outcomes but on safety first.

Schedule a Consultation Today

Your surgeons and the team at Ophthalmic Medical Associates, Inc. are leading providers of CTAKS in the San Francisco East Bay Area. If you suffer from keratoconus, and would like to learn if you are a candidate for this procedure, contact one of our convenient office locations in Hayward, Castro Valley by calling 877-210-2020 ext. 3.