Adding Corneal Reshaping to Your Practice - Scorecard - MDSpire

Adding Corneal Reshaping to Your Practice

CAIRS and CTAK procedures offer a practical opportunity to expand care options for patients with irregular corneas while integrating well into modern anterior segment and refractive practices.

  • By

  • Kamran M. Riaz, MD

  • January 1, 2026

  • 9 min

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Clinical Scorecard: Adding Corneal Reshaping to Your Practice

At a Glance

CategoryDetail
Condition
Key MechanismsIntracorneal ring segments (ICRS) and tissue-based reshaping techniques (CAIRS and CTAK), noting ICRS do not halt disease progression.
Target Population
Care Setting

Key Highlights

  • ICRS mechanically reshape the cornea but do not halt disease progression, which should be emphasized.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

    Management

    • Consider ICRS, CAIRS, or CTAK for patients not suitable for keratoplasty, ensuring careful selection based on corneal condition.

    Monitoring & Follow-up

      Risks

        Patient & Prescribing Data

        Patients with moderate to advanced KCN and irregular corneas

        Tissue-based reshaping can improve uncorrected and spectacle-corrected visual acuity.

        Clinical Best Practices

        • Combine CXL with reshaping procedures to stabilize corneal geometry and educate patients on potential complications.

        Related Resources & Content

        Original Source(s)

        Adding Corneal Reshaping to Your Practice

        • by Kamran M. Riaz, MD

        • January 1, 2026

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