Yaldo Eye Center - Conductive Keratoplasty

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ABC News - Health Announcement
Surgery for Reading Glasses Is Growing in Popularity
Age-Related Vision Loss Affects Almost Everyone Over 50

More than 60 million Americans have difficulty reading menus and computer screens, and seeing to drive at night. Many find themsleves constantly repositioning reading materials.

Tired of wearing reading glasses? CK is for you.

A new non-laser procedureto reduce dependency of reading glasses. CK (Conductive Keratoplasty) is the latest refractive surgery procedure approved by the FDA for hyperopic patients. CK is 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 also 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.

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.

CK makes the cornea steeper and increases its focusing power

At the same time, the probe’s Teflon top ensures a precise depth of penetration to the cornea, adding to the safety of the procedure.

CK is performed as an outpatient basis at Yaldo Eye Center, using the ViewPoint CK System from Refractec Inc., an operating microscope and topical anesthesia. The cornea is marked to the concentration needed for correction. The procedure typically takes only three to five minutes. Most people can 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 months, as the eye continues to heal following the procedure.

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, thus 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.

CK is for those who:

are tired of reading glasses
have difficulty with close vision
are at least 40 years of age
have not had a significant change in their distance vision for one year
have no health issues affecting their eyes
are not pregnant or nursing

What to expect on surgery day

CK is performed in our outpatient surgical facility. 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 either sitting upright as if undergoing an eye exam or lying back, 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 32 treatment points, depending on the amount of correction needed. As the dots are touched, heat from the radio waves shrinks the tissue, producing a clenching effect that creates a more curved cornea. Some patients elect to have only one eye treated to give them monovision.

There will be eight to 32 treatment points

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 or two. 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. However, we cannot guarantee you will have the results you desire.

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.