CAIRS: Biomechanical Corneal Reconstruction in Keratoconus Treatment
Warsaw · Krakow · Vienna · Zurich
For patients with advanced keratoconus where traditional methods may prove insufficient, Swisslaser offers access to a groundbreaking, biological method of corneal reconstruction: CAIRS (Corneal Allogenic Intrastromal Ring Segments). This is the world’s most advanced technique, aiming to restore the eye’s natural architecture, strengthen its structure, and avoid the need for corneal transplantation.
What is CAIRS? Understanding Nature’s Logic
CAIRS is a revolution in keratoconus treatment, based on nature’s logic. Instead of artificial, plastic implants, we use precisely shaped segments of pure, natural collagen. These biological implants, free of donor cells, integrate with your cornea, becoming a part of it. They act as an internal scaffold – strengthening the weakened structure, flattening the cone, and restoring a more natural, stable shape to the cornea.
Precision Guaranteed: ATOS Femtosecond Laser with Cyclorotation Compensation
The effectiveness of CAIRS relies on the perfect placement of the segments. At Swisslaser, we use the ATOS femtosecond laser, equipped with unique cyclorotation compensation technology. The system actively tracks your eye in real-time and compensates for even the slightest involuntary rotational movements of the eyeball during the procedure. This guarantees that the tunnel for the CAIRS implant is created with absolute, sub-micron precision, along a perfectly planned axis. This technology eliminates the risk of error and ensures the highest possible level of safety.
Why is Biological Tissue Better Than Plastic?
| Feature | CAIRS (Biological Tissue) | PMMA Rings (Plastic) |
| Material | Natural, human collagen | Acrylic glass (Plexiglas) |
| Biocompatibility | Excellent. The tissue integrates with the cornea, becoming part of it. | Limited. The implant remains a foreign body in the eye. |
| Risk of complications | Minimal. The risk of inflammation, displacement, or ‘extrusion’ of the implant is negligible. | Elevated. Inflammation, infections, and implant extrusion are known risks. |
Blade-Free and Safe Procedure
Precise Tunnel Creation
Using a femtosecond laser, we create a microscopic tunnel in the cornea – completely blade-free and under computer control.
Gentle Implantation
The biological segment is gently inserted into the prepared space.
Immediate Reinforcement
The segment immediately begins to provide support and integrate with the corneal tissue.
Results You Can See: Anonymous Case Study
CAIRS is a revolution in keratoconus treatment, based on nature’s logic. Instead of artificial, plastic implants, we use precisely shaped segments of pure, natural collagen. These biological implants, free of donor cells, integrate with your cornea, becoming a part of it. They act as an internal scaffold – strengthening the weakened structure, flattening the cone, and restoring a more natural, stable shape to the cornea.
Guarantee of the Highest European Standard
The CAIRS procedure, as it utilizes human tissue, is subject to the strictest legal regulations and safety standards. To ensure our patients receive treatment of the absolute highest, uncompromising quality, we have developed a proven, international care model.
Our Care Model
- Diagnostics and Qualification in Poland: The entire diagnostic process, detailed planning, and qualification for the procedure are conducted comfortably in our clinics in Warsaw and Krakow.
- Surgical Procedure at a Specialized Center: The CAIRS implantation procedure itself is currently performed at our specialized, international surgical center in Vienna. This guarantees you access to a certified European tissue bank and infrastructure that meets the highest safety standards.
- Full Post-Operative Care in Poland: All follow-up appointments and further post-operative management take place back in Poland, ensuring continuity and convenience of care.
Travel Support: Easier Than You Think
We understand that traveling for a procedure might seem challenging. That’s why our Polish-speaking team of coordinators provides full support in organizing your trip, from advising on the best flight or train connections to assisting with booking verified hotels near our Vienna clinic.
An Investment in Quality of Life
We understand that the decision to undergo treatment comes with questions about costs. Please view this not as an expense, but as a one-time investment in your eye health for life. The value of avoiding a transplant, being able to drive safely at night, or the comfort of working without bothersome, hard contact lenses, is immeasurable. We offer transparent information and convenient payment systems to make world-class treatment accessible to you.
Rebuild the Foundation of Your Vision
If you suffer from advanced keratoconus and are looking for the safest, most modern method of corneal reconstruction, CAIRS may be the solution you have been waiting for.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Czy każdy zabieg CAIRS musi odbyć się w Wiedniu?
Yes, currently, to guarantee you the highest standard of safety and compliance with European regulations regarding human tissue, these procedures are performed at our dedicated center in Vienna. All other care – before and after the procedure – takes place in Poland.
Czy mój organizm może “odrzucić” implant CAIRS?
No. The tissue used for CAIRS is acellular (free of donor cells), meaning your immune system does not recognize it as foreign. The risk of rejection is eliminated.
Czy CAIRS zastępuje zabieg Crosslinking?
No, these procedures complement each other perfectly. Most often, we first perform CAIRS to reconstruct the shape of the cornea, and after a few months, in Poland, we perform Crosslinking to ‘cement’ and stabilize this new, improved shape.
Na czym polega kompensacja cyklorotacji i dlaczego jest ważna?
It is a system in our ATOS laser that tracks involuntary rotational movements of the eye during the procedure and corrects them in real-time. This ensures that the CAIRS implant is placed in the perfectly planned location with the highest possible precision.
Czym CAIRS różni się od pierścieni Intacs czy Keraring?
The fundamental difference lies in the material and safety. CAIRS is natural tissue that integrates with the eye. Intacs/Keraring are rigid plastic, which always remains a foreign body. The safety profile of CAIRS is incomparably better.
Czy po zabiegu CAIRS będę widzieć idealnie bez okularów?
The main goal of CAIRS is corneal reconstruction and avoiding a transplant. This leads to a significant improvement in vision quality and allows for effective glasses prescription. Perfect vision without glasses is not guaranteed, but in the next stage, it can often be achieved, for example, with ICL lenses.
Czy zabieg jest bolesny?
No. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia (drops) and is painless. After the procedure, there may be slight discomfort or a foreign body sensation, but it is not severe pain.
Jak długa jest rekonwalescencja?
Most patients return to office work after 3-5 days. Full vision stabilization and tissue integration take several months.
Jaki jest koszt zabiegu CAIRS?
This is a highly specialized procedure. The cost is higher than standard Crosslinking. During your consultation in Poland, you will receive a full and transparent cost estimate.
Czy NFZ refunduje zabieg CAIRS?
No, this is a non-standard, advanced procedure that is not reimbursed by the National Health Fund.
Jak długo utrzymują się efekty po implantacji CAIRS?
Since CAIRS segments fully integrate with the cornea, becoming part of it, they are designed as a lifelong solution.
Jak zorganizować podróż i pobyt w Wiedniu?
Our Polish-speaking team of coordinators will assist you at every stage – from advising on the best transport and helping with hotel reservations, to on-site care. Your only task is to get there – we will take care of the rest.
Mieszkam daleko od Warszawy/Krakowa. Czy leczenie jest dla mnie?
Absolutely. Qualification and follow-ups in Poland, as well as the procedure itself in Vienna, require several trips. However, for patients with advanced disease for whom this may be the only alternative to a transplant, it is a worthwhile investment. We help patients from all over Poland.
Czy istnieje granica wieku dla zabiegu CAIRS?
There is no strict limit. The decisive factors are the condition of the cornea and overall eye health, not the patient’s age.
Co, jeśli po CAIRS i Crosslinkingu nadal mam wadę wzroku?
This is normal. After the stabilization and corneal reconstruction process is complete, any remaining, but now stable and significantly smaller, refractive error can be effectively corrected with glasses, soft contact lenses, and in many cases – with implantable phakic ICL lenses.
