Intacs: Theresa, 32

August 17, 1999
Web posted at: 11:44 a.m. EDT (1544 GMT)

Name: Theresa

Age: 32

Residence: Los Angelos

Procedure: Intacs

Which eyes: Both eyes. Theresa's surgery was done as part of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) trials. She had one eye done at a time, with six months in between. She saw Dr. Kerry Assil, national medical director of the Aris Vision Institute in Santa Monica, California.

Cost: As an FDA trial patient, she paid only $500 an eye, for a total of $1,000. She received two years of follow-up, and at the end of two years, she received $250 for participating in the trial. She donated that to a group called Lion's Eye.

When done: She had the first eye done in February 1997 and the second eye done in September 1997.

Why did you do it?

She said she chose Intacs because she retained all her options with this procedure. "If I wasn't pleased, I still had the option of the laser or whatever future technology brings," she said.

She considered Intacs to be a less intrusive procedure. "It didn't take anything away from my cornea; it only added to it," she said. "I'm a risk taker. I take calculated risks.

Because of her active lifestyle, rock climbing, scuba diving, rappelling, etc. she said, glasses got in the way. Contacts were not an option for her, as she didn't like to put anything in her eye and has severe allergies.

After breaking and losing lots of glasses, she just didn't wear them. She said she went through life "judging blurs." For Theresa the decision to have Intacs was a "lifestyle decision."

Would you call it successful?

"It is miraculous, better than successful. I have incredible vision. That to me is beyond successful. It was life-changing," she said.

She described it as the best thing she ever did for herself. "I sound corny when I say it, but it is true. I've given myself a gift. Everything is clear."

What was your vision before the procedure?

Before the procedure she was -1.50 and -1.25 with an astigmatism. She said she could read only to the third line down on the eye chart.

After:

She is now 20/12 with no corrective lenses.

Did this procedure meet your expectations?

"Exceeded my expectations. Dramatically exceeded my expectations."

Would you do it again?

Theresa said she would have the procedure again "in a heartbeat," particularly with her doctor. "I'm a risk taker, but they are calculated risks. I believe Dr. Assil is the best."

Any pain?

No, none whatsoever. "They gave me numbing drops and valium. The preop and the follow-up were harder than the procedure."

How would you describe the experience?

According to Theresa, the procedure took about 10 minutes and she felt nothing. She said it happened very fast and was like being in a glass bottom boat and watching the procedure happen.

What risks were you made aware of ahead of time?

"I had the parade of horribles from the FDA, but I think my greatest risk was one of infection." Because she has a lot of allergies, Theresa said she was afraid she would be allergic to the implant. But she said the choice of Intacs was a "no-brainer" because if she had a bad reaction she could have them removed.

Did you seek out the treatment, or was it suggested to you by a doctor?

She and her twin sister sought out the procedure. They had been watching refractive surgery and decided it was too risky. They found RK and PRK didn't have consistent enough results.

When they learned of Intacs, they decided they could get help now and retain all their options as technology improves. Both went to Assil for the procedure.

"I'm delighted with Intacs," Theresa said.

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