Conductive Keratoplasty (CK)
Seattle, Washington
If you struggle with presbyopia or farsightedness, Conductive Keratoplasty (CK) may be a great solution for you.
A relatively new type of refractive surgery, Conductive Keratoplasty is performed during a brief, 15 minute procedure, using a tiny probe to apply mild heat derived from radio waves to shrink collagen around the edges of the cornea. This procedure steepens the cornea, which is too flat in farsighted individuals. A too-flat cornea disturbs close-up vision by moving light beyond the retina. Steepening the cornea repositions light directly onto the retina, providing better near and distance vision. Individuals who suffer from presbyopia with or without farsightedness can also benefit from CK and enjoy enhanced near vision.
Currently, individuals with nearsightedness or astigmatism cannot benefit from CK, but other refractive surgeries are available to treat these conditions. At Bellevue Lasik and Cornea in Seattle, Washington, Dr. Kent Leavitt will work closely with you to find the vision correction procedure that will provide your best visual acuity.
FDA-Approval for Conductive Keratoplasty
In 2002, CK received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in correcting mild farsightedness in people over 40. In 2004, the FDA expanded its approval to include treatment for presbyopia.
Presbyopia is a condition related to aging of the eye. The eye's natural crystalline lens begins to stiffen with age, losing its ability to accommodate, or focus simultaneously at near, middle, and distant ranges. When the CK procedure is used to correct presbyopia, only one eye is corrected for near vision. This is usually the non-dominant eye, while the dominant eye is left untreated for distance focus. The treated eye can then see closer objects, while the untreated eye is relied upon for middle to distant range vision. This procedure is known as monovision.
Knowing if CK is Right for You
To determine if CK is right for correcting your presbyopia, Dr. Leavitt may ask you to consider a trial period, where you will wear monovision contact lenses that simulate the vision you will experience after your CK procedure. Some patients tolerate this type of vision well, while others discover it is simply not right for them. The trial period is an excellent way to find out before undergoing the procedure.
Are you ready to see the world with your best vision yet? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Leavitt in Seattle, Washington by contacting Bellevue Lasik and Cornea today.