Brisbane surgeons bring customised CAIRS for keratoconus to Australia

By AI, Created 9:44 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Brisbane corneal surgeons Dr David Gunn and Dr Brendan Cronin are now offering customised femtosecond laser CAIRS for keratoconus and related corneal conditions. The move makes Brisbane the first place in Australia to provide the procedure and gives patients a local option that could delay or avoid corneal transplant surgery.

Why it matters: - Brisbane patients with keratoconus and other corneal ectatic disorders now have access to a tissue-additive surgical option that was previously unavailable in Australia. - The procedure may help some patients delay or avoid full-thickness corneal transplant surgery. - The launch adds a domestic treatment path for patients who might otherwise consider traveling overseas for care.

What happened: - Brisbane ophthalmologists Dr David Gunn and Dr Brendan Cronin have become the first ophthalmologists in Australia to offer customised femtosecond-laser-created corneal allogenic intrastromal ring segments, or CAIRS. - The pair are the second clinical team worldwide to offer the procedure. - The treatment is being offered for keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration and post-LASIK ectasia. - The procedure uses the Ziemer Z8 femtosecond laser.

The details: - CAIRS is a tissue-additive keratoplasty technique that places donor corneal tissue segments into channels within the recipient cornea. - The goal is to flatten and regularize the cornea’s shape. - CAIRS is positioned as an alternative to synthetic intracorneal ring segments. - The customised femtosecond approach uses the Ziemer Z8 platform to cut both the donor segments and the recipient channels. - The treatment plan is tailored to each eye’s topography and ectatic pattern. - The intent is to produce a more reproducible and patient-specific result than manual or standardised techniques. - Dr Gunn and Dr Cronin are the developers of cairsplan.com, a clinical planning platform used by corneal surgeons internationally to plan CAIRS procedures from patient corneal imaging. - The platform supports surgeons in multiple countries. - Dr Gunn and Dr Cronin are Brisbane-based ophthalmologists specializing in corneal and refractive surgery, including the surgical management of keratoconus, corneal ectasia and corneal transplantation. - Both surgeons are Fellows of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists and are registered with the Medical Board of Australia under AHPRA. - Further information about the surgeons is available at Dr David Gunn and Dr Brendan Cronin.

Between the lines: - Keratoconus typically begins in adolescence or early adulthood and is the most common corneal ectatic disorder in Australia. - The introduction of customised femtosecond CAIRS expands the range of tissue-additive options available to Australian patients. - The launch also signals growing clinical adoption of CAIRS beyond a small number of specialist teams.

What’s next: - Suitability for customised femtosecond CAIRS will be determined case by case after a comprehensive corneal assessment. - Not all patients with keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration or post-LASIK ectasia will qualify. - Outcomes will vary by patient and cannot be guaranteed. - Patients are encouraged to seek a second opinion before proceeding with surgical treatment.