CAIRS (Corneal Allogenic Intrastromal Ring Segments) is an innovative surgical procedure designed to treat keratoconus, a progressive eye disease that causes the cornea to thin and bulge into a cone-like shape. This distortion of the cornea leads to blurry and distorted vision, making everyday activities challenging.
CAIRS involves implanting donor corneal tissue segments into the cornea to provide structural support and improve its shape, thereby enhancing vision and halting the progression of keratoconus. This procedure offers a promising solution for those whose condition has not responded well to other treatments like contact lenses or corneal collagen cross-linking, providing a new lease on life for patients struggling with this debilitating condition. In contrast with traditional corneal transplants, CAIRS reshapes the cornea using ring segments created from donor corneal tissue, offering a more effective and natural correction.
One day, imagine experiencing a clear eyesight that you haven’t had in years. These days, a lot of people with eye diseases like keratoconus or corneal ectasia can actually achieve this because of breakthroughs in eye surgery. A notable example of this is the CAIRS eye surgery. If you or a loved one is thinking about having this operation done, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know, making sure you understand every step and feel confident.
With keratoconus, a progressive eye disease, vision becomes distorted as the cornea thins and attains cone-shaped. In order to stabilise and restructure the cornea, corneal ring segments are implanted during the CAIRS operation. The below four points will guide you about thorough rundown of the CAIRS treatment process:
CAIRS is often recommended for patients with:
Before the surgical treatment, a comprehensive eye examination is performed as follows,
The CAIRS technique has many benefits for individuals with keratoconus, making it a viable choice for managing this degenerative eye disease. Here are the main benefits of CAIRS for keratoconus:
The technique can be customised to the patient’s individual corneal shape and degree of ectasia. Surgeons can modify the number, size, and positioning of the segments to produce the best results.
The CAIRS procedure should be conducted by a highly skilled eye surgeon with a medical degree and ophthalmology residency. Ideally, the surgeon should have extra fellowship training in cornea and refractive surgery, which allows for specialised competence in treating corneal illnesses and executing advanced corneal procedures. They must be board-certified in ophthalmology and have extensive experience diagnosing and managing keratoconus, as well as knowledge of corneal surgical methods, particularly those using intrastromal implants.
Experience with modern equipment such as femtosecond lasers or mechanical microkeratomes is also required. To guarantee comprehensive patient care, the surgeon should participate in ongoing education to stay up to date on the newest breakthroughs, join relevant professional organisations, and collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of experts. To achieve the best results, effective communication skills are required while meeting with patients, explaining the operation, and giving detailed postoperative care.
Many individuals see significant improvements in their vision after CAIRS surgery, while the level of improvement varies depending on the severity of the keratoconus, prior eyesight, and corneal features. It can decrease irregular astigmatism and increase visual acuity, resulting in crisper and sharper vision. Patients frequently report better eyesight, with fewer distortions and glare. The surgeon’s precision in segment placement, adherence to postoperative care recommendations, and corneal health all contribute to the surgery’s outcome. While CAIRS primarily tries to stabilise the cornea and slow disease progression, many patients still require corrective lenses, albeit less strong ones. It is critical to set reasonable expectations and explore possible outcomes with the surgeon.
CAIRS is one of various methods for improving eyesight in people with keratoconus and other corneal ectatic conditions. Other eye treatments include glasses and contact lenses, which can correct vision in the early stages; rigid gas permeable (RGP) and scleral lenses, which provide a more consistent refractive surface for moderate to advanced keratoconus; and corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL), which strengthens the corneal collagen fibres and slows disease progression. Furthermore, Intacs (intrastromal corneal ring segments) are synthetic implants used to reshape and stabilise the cornea, similar to CAIRS but with plastic segments instead of donated tissue. The severity of the condition, corneal characteristics, and unique patient demands all influence treatment decisions, which frequently necessitate a consultation with a trained ophthalmologist to establish the best strategy.
In India, the cost of CAIRS varies based on the patient’s eye features and the type of corneal problem being treated. The severity of keratoconus, as well as the particular corneal shape and thickness, can all have an impact on the procedure’s difficulty and cost. Furthermore, the geographic location, surgeon expertise, and kind of medical facility all have an important impact in deciding the final keratoconus surgery cost. A full consultation with an experienced ophthalmologist is required to provide an accurate cost estimate based on your specific needs and corneal health.
Dr. Soosan Jacob, a distinguished ophthalmologist and pioneer in corneal and refractive surgery at Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital, created the CAIRS procedure. Dr. Soosan Jacob is well-known for her unique contributions to ophthalmology, which have helped advance numerous surgical approaches for treating difficult corneal problems. Her CAIRS method, which uses allogenic tissue to stabilise and restructure the cornea, is a revolutionary strategy for treating keratoconus and other corneal ectatic problems.
Verified by: Dr. T. Senthil Kumar MBBS MS (Ophthal) (Gold Medallist) FICO |
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Yes, CAIRS is a relatively new treatment for treating keratoconus and other corneal ectatic conditions. Donor corneal tissue rings are implanted into the corneal stroma to offer structural support and improve corneal stability.
CAIRS is not appropriate for everyone with keratoconus. The technique is usually indicated for individuals with progressive keratoconus who have not responded adequately to conservative therapies such as contact lenses. A comprehensive evaluation by a corneal specialist is required to evaluate whether CAIRS is the best option based on the individual’s corneal thickness, shape, and overall eye health
The long-term effects of CAIRS are still being explored, but initial results indicate that the surgery can give consistent, long-term improvements in corneal shape and vision. The majority of individuals had keratoconus progression halted, and their visual acuity has improved. Ongoing monitoring is required to ensure the stability and health of the cornea.
CAIRS is a structural solution that strengthens and shapes the cornea, whereas contact lenses, particularly Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) and scleral lenses, correct vision by providing a smooth refractive surface. CAIRS can reduce or improve the comfort and effectiveness of contact lenses, but they may not completely eliminate the need for corrective lenses.
CAIRS risks include infection, inflammation, segment displacement or extrusion, and the need for additional surgical intervention if issues emerge. As with any surgical operation, there are inherent risks that must be discussed with the surgeon beforehand.
CAIRS (Corneal Allogenic Intrastromal Ring Segments)may be an option for patients who have already undergone corneal collagen cross-linking. The two operations can work together, with cross-linking stabilising the cornea at a biochemical level and CAIRS giving mechanical support while improving corneal shape. A corneal specialist can determine whether CAIRS is appropriate in your unique instance.
Night vision may be affected temporarily following CAIRS surgery due to postoperative healing and probable corneal shape alterations. Some patients may have glare and halos at first, but these symptoms usually resolve as the cornea recovers. Long-term night vision results are generally positive, particularly when compared to untreated progressive keratoconus.
The CAIRS recovery procedure consists of multiple stages. Patients may suffer discomfort, redness, and impaired vision at first, but these symptoms usually subside after a few days. Eye drops are used to prevent infections and relieve irritation. Regular follow-up visits are essential for monitoring healing and the position of the ring segments. Most patients can return to normal activities within a week, although the final visual outcome may take several months as the cornea stabilises and adjusts.