Cairs

What are CAIRS?

CAIRS (Corneal Allogenic Intrastromal Ring Segments) is a surgical technique used to treat keratoconous, an eye condition where the cornea thins and bulges into a cone shape. This innovative procedure involves implanting custom-designed corneal segments made from donor tissue into the patient's cornea. Unlike INTACS, which use synthetic materials, CAIRS uses biological, donor-derived tissue, making the procedure more biocompatible and potentially offering better healing and integration with the patient's natural cornea.

How do CAIRS Work?

Donor Tissue Preparation: CAIRS uses segments made from allogenic tissue, which is human corneal tissue obtained from a donor (usually via a tissue bank). This tissue is carefully processed and cut into specific segments designed to reshape the cornea.

Surgical Procedure:

Anesthesia: The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, typically using numbing eye drops.
Corneal Channel Creation: A small incision is made in the patient's cornea. Using a femtosecond laser or mechanical technique, the surgeon creates a precise channel within the corneal layers (the stroma) where the donor tissue segments will be placed.
Insertion of the Segments: The surgeon carefully inserts the custom-cut corneal donor segments into the created channels. These segments work to reshape the cornea, flattening the bulging areas typical of keratoconous.

Corneal Reshaping: Once inserted, the segments change the biomechanical structure of the cornea, helping to flatten and stabilize the conical shape associated with keratoconous. This reshaping improves the regularity of the corneal surface, leading to improved vision and reduced visual distortions such as astigmatism.

Why choose CAIRS?

Biocompatibility: Since CAIRS uses biological tissue, it is more likely to integrate naturally with the patient’s cornea compared to synthetic implants. This can reduce the risk of complications such as infections, rejection, or chronic inflammation.

Customization: The donor segments are customized to each patient’s corneal structure, offering a tailored approach to treating keratoconous.

Less Invasive: Similar to INTACS, CAIRS is a minimally invasive procedure, but with the added benefit of using biological tissue, which might promote better healing.

Who Can Benefit from CAIRS?

keratoconous Patients: CAIRS is particularly beneficial for patients with mild to moderate keratoconous, especially those who cannot tolerate contact lenses or whose condition is too advanced for less invasive treatments like glasses.

Patients Seeking Biocompatible Options: Since CAIRS uses donor tissue, it is ideal for patients who prefer natural, biological solutions over synthetic implants like INTACS.

Advantages of CAIRS:

Improved Biocompatibility: Using donor tissue can reduce complications related to foreign materials in the eye, such as inflammation, infection, or the body rejecting the implant.

Minimal Invasiveness: The procedure preserves corneal tissue and involves no removal of corneal layers, which can make recovery faster and less painful.

Potential for Better Vision Correction: By using a more natural, biologically compatible material, CAIRS might offer improved outcomes in terms of visual clarity and stability.

Customisable: The segments can be tailored to the unique shape and severity of each patient’s cornea, offering a personalised approach to keratoconous treatment.

Risks and Considerations:

Infection: Like any surgical procedure, there is a risk of infection, although the use of biological tissue may reduce this risk compared to synthetic implants.

Post-Surgical Complications: While the donor tissue is biocompatible, there is still a risk of complications such as migration or displacement of the segments.

Continued keratoconous Progression: In some cases, keratoconous may continue to progress even after the procedure, requiring additional treatments such as corneal crosslinking.

Need for Additional Vision Correction: Some patients may still require glasses or contact lenses after the procedure, although their vision may be significantly improved.

Cairs Vs Intacs:

Material: INTACS are made from synthetic plastic, while CAIRS uses allogenic (donor) corneal tissue.

Healing: CAIRS may promote better healing and integration due to the natural tissue used, whereas INTACS might have a slightly higher risk of complications related to synthetic materials.

Reversibility: Both procedures are minimally invasive and reversible, but CAIRS may offer more biocompatibility due to the use of human tissue.

Conclusion:

CAIRS is a promising, minimally invasive option for patients with keratoconous, offering a natural and biocompatible way to reshape the cornea and improve vision. By using donor corneal tissue, CAIRS has the potential to reduce complications associated with synthetic implants and provide more natural healing. For patients seeking alternatives to synthetic implants like INTACS, CAIRS may be an excellent option, particularly when combined with other treatments like corneal cross-linking to halt the progression of keratoconous.

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