Vision Correction With Conductive Keratoplasty (CK)

Conductive Keratoplasty is a painless office procedure that uses radiofrequency energy to strenthen the focusing power of the cornea for the treatment of presbyopia.

On March 22, 2004 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of NearVision CK (Conductive Keratoplasty). This is the first and only FDA approved procedure for the treatment of Presbyopia (aging eyes). Dr. Donald Digby performed the first NearVision CK procedure in the Greensboro Triad area nearly two years ago, offering our patients the most experience with CK in the region. The procedure is laser-free and extremely safe, there is no cutting or removal of tissue.

According to the marketing research firm MarketScope, CK has become the fastest-growing new refractive procedure since the introduction of LASIK. Today, doctors have performed more than 30,000 CK procedures since the FDA first approved CK in 2002 for age-related farsightedness (hyperopia).

Using a controlled release of radiofrequency energy into the stroma (the third layer of cornea), the temperature of the corneal tissue is increased, which makes the cornea steeper and strengthens its focusing power.

CK is for those who:

• want to reduce or eliminate their dependence on reading glasses
• have difficulty with close vision
• are at least 43 years of age
• have not had a significant change in their vision for one year
• have no health issues affecting their eyes
• have always had good distance vision without the need of corrective lenses
• are not pregnant or nursing

What to expect on your CK procedure day:

CK does not require a surgical facility. It is just performed in the Greensboro office. First, your eye will be completely numbed with powerful eye drop anesthesia. When your eye is completely numb, an eyelid holder will be placed between your eyelids to keep you from blinking during the procedure.

Then you will lie back on a reclining chair and you'll be asked to look at the microscope light. Your eye will be marked with a series of dots. Your surgeon will touch the dots with the probe making a full circle around the outer margins of the cornea. There will be eight to 16 treatment points, depending on the amount of correction needed. As the dots are touched, the radio waves strengthen the focusing power of your cornea. Most patients only need to have one eye treated to give them blended vision.

Soon after the procedure, your eyes will be examined and you will go home and relax for the rest of the day. For the first couple of days, you may experience some scratchiness in your eyes, or excessive watering. This rapidly improves and medications can be taken to relieve any discomfort. Normal activities are generally resumed within a day. While many patients see improvement in their near vision immediately after the procedure, it usually takes a few weeks to several months for the results to be fully realized. As with other vision correction procedures, you may experience some discomfort and light sensitivity (glare or halos) for a few days following CK.

Realistic expectations

The decision to have CK is an important one that only you can make. The goal of any refractive surgical procedure is to reduce your dependence on corrective lenses. It is our goal to counsel you so that your expectations and ours are the same - and that they are realistic. CK has been approved to treat presbyopia and farsightedness between +.75 and +3.00 Diopters, but it is most effective for the treatment of presbyopia.

Serious complications with CK are extremely rare. CK is a safe and effective procedure, but like any medical procedure, it does have some risks. After a thorough eye exam you and your doctor will determine if CK is an option for you. If you are a good candidate, you will be given additional information about the procedure that will allow you to make an informed decision about whether to proceed. Be sure you have all your questions answered to your satisfaction.

Alternatives to CK

Well, you can always wear those reading glasses! There are bifocal contact lenses and some people like monovision with contact lenses. CK is not the only surgical procedure designed to treat presbyopia and farsightedness. To learn about other vision correction procedures go to the Vision Correction segment of our Web Site. You may also choose to make an appointment or request additional information to learn more about this exciting procedure.

For more information about CK call us today at 336-230-1010. You may also visit the Refractec website at www.refractec.com.