What is presbyopia?
Presbyopia is when you lose your ability to see up close. When you are young the lens of your eye is very flexible and it changes shape to allow you to focus from distance to near vision. As we age, especially after 40, the lens of the eye changes and becomes less flexible. The by product of this is that the lens does not change shape as easily and it becomes more rigid. The result of this is that we begin to hold reading material further away from our eyes to bring these things into better focus.
We can correct presbyopia by increasing the magnification or focus of the eye with magnifying glasses, bifocals or various forms of refractive surgery.
Where does CK fit in?
CK or Conductive Keratoplasty is used for correction of mild to moderate farsightedness and to correct for presbyopia in one eye. The best candidate for presbyopic CK is in a person with normal distance vision in both eyes. One eye is left alone and is considered a distance seeing eye. The other eye is corrected for near and is a reading eye. CK is used to correct the reading eye. This approach is called monovision. You can also use LASIK and contact lenses to achieve monovision.
How does CK Work?
CK uses radio waves that are transmitted through a tiny probe that releases a controlled amount of heat energy. The probe is applied to the peripheral cornea in a circular pattern of 8 to 16 pulses. The radio waves contract the peripheral cornea and allow steepening of the central cornea. It is similar to tightening a band or a belt. The steeping effect causes the eye to became nearsighted resulting in the patients ability to read. The procedure is performed in the office and is painless. A topical eye anesthetic is used to put the eye to sleep. After the procedure the patient will feel a foreign body sensation in the eye for several hours. There may be some fluctuation in vision for several weeks after the procedure. CK may not be a permanent correction, for some patients the amount of near correction fades over time.
Who is a candidate?
CK candidates require normal healthy eyes that have excellent distance or far away vision without glasses. You and your doctor will decide if CK is the best choice for you.
