I have heard about a new procedure for nearsightedness in which a ring is inserted in the eye to reshape it. Can you tell me more about this?

C.

The device you refer to, called the intracorneal ring, was approved by the FDA to treat mild nearsightedness. In a surgical procedure, the ring -- actually, two plastic half-circles -- is inserted into the edge of the cornea, causing the central cornea to become flatter and thereby correcting nearsightedness (myopia).

People considering intracorneal rings should be 21 or older and should have mild myopia with less than 1 diopter of astigmatism. As with any type of eye surgery, it is important for to discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. The main benefits of intracorneal rings are that, unlike the laser-vision correction procedures PRK and LASIK, the central cornea is not touched, and the rings can be removed if you are unhappy with the results. The main risks of the procedure include eye injury, infection, inflammation and unsatisfactory vision. Other choices for patients considering intracorneal rings include LASIK, PRK, contact lenses and eyeglasses.

It is also important for people over age 40 who are candidates for intracorneal rings, as well as LASIK or PRK, to realize that the gain in distance vision from these procedures may come at the expense of their near vision. This is because of a condition called presbyopia, which refers to the natural loss of the ability to focus the eye on nearby objects. I have heard of patients over 40 having eye surgery to enhance their distance vision, only to discover after the procedure that they have lost their ability to see print or other small objects without glasses.