Conductive keratoplasty for hyperopia correction

As a non-laser refractive surgery, conductive keratoplasty (CK) can be used to correct mild hyperopia. NearVision CK is now a widely performed CK surgery. NearVision CK applies low-level, radio frequency energy to specific spots on the outer part of the cornea, which will thus be tightened and steepened. In this way, the re-focus effect can be achieved. CK involves no tissue removal. This is the fundamental difference between this surgery and others like LASIK, LASEK and PRK. In general, people with stable and good vision before their 40s are good candidates for NearVision CK. Patients who wear a pacemaker and those with severe dry eye will be excluded from a CK procedure.

Candidate test before monovision conductive keratoplasty

CK can also be combined with monovision, which corrects only one of the hyperopic eyes. Like other forms of monovision, the patient may also be asked to wear special contact lenses before the surgery, in order to test if he or she can adapt to monovision visual effect. During the candidate test, the eye doctor can still make the patient to hold a +1.0 diopter lens in front of the non-dominant eye, so as to simulate the actual monovision effect. Both of these two ways are effective in assessing whether the patient is a good candidate for monovision CK. Patients who can not get the monovision eyes coordinated well should not receive a monovision surgery.

The downside and upside of CK treatment

Monovision CK has both advantages and disadvantages over other solutions to presbyopia. Although monovision with CK also brings less sharp driving vision, it creates better distance vision than monovision with contact lenses and monovision with LASIK. Similar to other refractive surgeries, CK can not always achieve permanent vision effects because of potential eye structural changes. Presbyopia is a typical example, which worsens as people age. Presbyopic patients may need to wear reading glasses again after CK.

Preoperative preparation and detailed operations

Before a CK procedure, the patient should first choose a refractive surgeon through consultation and comparison. The doctor will examine the eyes thoroughly and create a detailed map of the cornea’s curvature via a corneal topographer. During the CK procedure, your eyelid will be stabilized in open and without blinking. After imprinting a treatment pattern, the doctor then uses a probe to deliver the energy at these spots. Sometimes bringing slight eye pressure, NearVision CK is painless and only takes a few minutes. Furthermore, both eyes can be treated at the same visit.

Eye care after a CK procedure

There are also some things to be known after a CK procedure. Patients will receive prescription eye drops to reduce the risk of eye infection and contamination. Within 20 to 30 minutes after the CK, there may be a foreign body sensation, which will go away within 24 hours. Vision recovery is always not perfect during the first few weeks. There are possible visual defects, e.g. slight nearsightedness, fluctuation vision and bright light sensitivity. People after a CK also need to be more cautious when they are in the swimming pool or showering. They should also avoid eye makeup and rubbing.

A conclusion

CK has certain advantages over other forms of refractive surgeries. Removing no corneal tissue, NearVision CK is quite safe for near vision correction. Complications such as dry eyes are less likely to happen to CK patients. With a proper expectation, CK is a favorable choice for most people considering hyperopia correction.