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Conductive Keratoplasty Can CK Help You?
CK, short for conductive keratoplasty, is best suited for those who are over 40 years of age and had good vision until they reached their forties or for those who are farsighted. CK has been approved by the FDA for patients who want to improve their near vision or who have hyperopia. After a thorough eye exam you and your doctor will determine if CK is an option for you.
About CK
 | CK is an exciting option for patients over 40 who want to have clear vision with less dependence on reading glasses. Even for those with perfect vision, the eye's ability to see closer objects begins to decrease at about age 40 and typically grows progressively worse with time. CK has been found to successfully restore the ability to see close-up or read small print.
Most people will experience presbyopia after turning 40, whether they are nearsighted, farsighted, or have never needed glasses before. The lens, situated behind the cornea, becomes less able to focus up close, creating the need for reading glasses.
CK is designed to treat near vision using the controlled release of radio frequency energy, instead of a laser, to reshape the cornea. The procedure can be conveniently performed in an office setting or refractive surgery suite using only eye drop anethesia. CK is a safe, minimally invasive and convenient procedure. |
What to Expect on Surgery Day | The CK procedure itself takes only a few minutes and is virtually painless. A topical anesthetic eye drop is applied to the eye, and then the doctor marks the intended treatment spots in a ring pattern on the cornea. Using a tiny probe thinner than a strand of human hair, the doctor applies radio waves in a circular pattern to shrink small areas of corneal tissue. The circular shrinkage pattern creates a constrictive band of tissue which, much like the tightening of a belt, makes the curve of the cornea steeper and increases its focusing power. Light rays from close-up objects are now focused more accurately on the retina, thus compensating for farsightedness. When the CK procedure is completed, the majority of patients find that the need for contact lenses or reading glasses is dramatically reduced. 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. | 
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Q and A:
Q. What are the risks and side effects of CK?
A. Because CK is minimally invasive and very controlled, the procedure has very few surgical complications. During the first 24 to 48 hours after surgery, you may experience tearing and some discomfort, including a foreign object sensation in the eyes.
Q. Will I ever need glasses or contacts again?
A. The vast majority of patients do not need corrective lenses of any kind. Patients usually notice an immediate improvement in their vision after the CK procedure, but it can take several weeks to several months for the eye to adjust to the final level of correction.
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