Near Vision CK

Conductive Keratoplasty (CK)

A new non-laser procedure to reduce dependancy on reading glasses...

CK (Conductive Keratoplasty) is the latest refractive surgery procedure approved by the FDA for hyperopic patients. CK is a remarkable alternative for people over 40 who have enjoyed good vision all of their lives and have now developed reading problems as a result of the natural aging process. This innovative new procedure uses radio frequency (RF) energy instead of a laser to reshape the contours of your eye. By changing the way your cornea (the clear front surface of your eye) directs light to the rest of your eye, CK effectively reduces the need for reading glasses.

CK is an effective, minimally invasive procedure for patients with low to moderate hyperopia (0.75 to 3.0 diopters). It takes only a few minutes to perform. With this procedure, there is no cutting or removing of tissue. Because the surgeon does not create a corneal flap, patients are less likely to develop common LASIK associated complications such as epithelial trauma and dry eye.

Procedure

To perform CK, the surgeon inserts a single-use probe, 450 microns long and about 90% as wide as a human hair, into a series of pre-determined spots forming a circular band around the mid-periphery of the patient's cornea. (There may be 8 to 32 treatment spots depending upon the amount of vision correction.) The probe releases controlled high-frequency radio wave energy (350 kHz), and the impedance or electrical resistance of the corneal collagen causes it to heat up in response. The heating causes the collagen to shrink in a predictable manner. The resulting shrinkage produces an effect comparable to tightening a belt around the periphery of the cornea, causing the cornea to shrink. At the same time, the probe's Teflon stop ensures a precise depth of penetration to the cornea, adding to the safety of the procedure.

CK is performed on an outpatient basis at Lake Lazer Eye Center, using the ViewPoint CK System from the Refractec Inc., an operating microscope and topical anesthesia. The cornea is marked to the centration needed for correction. The procedure typically takes only three to five minutes. Recovery time is comparable to LASIK. Most people can drive and return to work a day or two after surgery. Eyeglasses still might be needed for a short time. Studies have shown that most patients get the full benefit of CK in two to three weeks, as the eye continues to heal following the procedure.

Blended Vision, an option with CK

Some patients elect to have "blended vision" and have only one eye treated for near vision. This allows them to see clearly both near and far without the dependence on readers. If you are sure if blended vision is right for you, Dr. Khambati may be able to simulate this effect through trial lenses or contact lenses. Ultimately, it is much easier to adjust to blended vision following CK than with contact lenses.

Since the CK procedure may cause temporary swelling of the cornea, most patients will notice a fluctuation in their vision for the first several weeks as the cornea stabilizes. Although this is normal and expected, patients still enjoy functional vision and can do most tasks without glasses.

The decision to have CK is an important one that only you can make. The goal of CK is to turn back the clock and restore your vision to where it was in your 30's, giving you functional "every day" vision, reducing your dependence on reading glasses. How far the clock turns back depends on how your eye responds and how it heals. Unfortunately, the clock never stops. As your eyes continue to age, you may require "touch ups" in the future.

Data shows that CK is effective and stable over time. Researchers believe that the reason CK works so well is because the effects of treatment penetrate more than 500 microns into the cornea. This makes it possible to achieve a stable hyperopic treatment without cutting or removing corneal tissue.

As with laser procedures, an enhancement may be necessary to achieve the best possible vision correction. As with laser procedures, this is typically done three to six months after the initial procedure, when the eye has completely healed.