Developed and heavily modified over the last 30 years. It works by making microscopic incisions at the edge of the cornea avoiding the line of sight and is much less invasive and drastic than LASIK. It is often described by the laser clinics as an old technique, superseded by LASIK. It is in fact currently the only procedure with a long term safety history (well over 30 years) with no significant sight-threatening long term complications and in our experience is highly accurate with over 95% seeing 20/20 or better at their final visit. It is also safe from most problems associated with laser. This procedure can also be used to correct some of the effects of unsuccessful laser surgery. It is also very useful in the correction of astigmatism after cataract surgery along with limbal relaxing incisions. Pupil size and corneal thickness are very rarely a limiting factor (it can be a problem with excimer laser).

Most of the effect can be seen as soon as the pad is removed. No tissue is removed from the eye and avoiding the line of sight helps preserve night vision.

INTACS can also be used for myopia up to -4.00D. This has the advantage of being truly reversible, unlike nearly all other refractive procedures.