Oklahoma Eye Center - CK - Introducing Conductive Keratoplasty

Why continue to struggle with glasses?

Introducing Conductive Keratoplasty

Reduce your need for reading glasses with the first non-laser vision procedure for people over 40.

Turn back the clock on your vision

Conductive Keratoplasty (CK) can help restore your vision, allowing you to see clearly like you could 10 years ago. It's an exciting new advancement in vision correction because it uses radiofrequency (RF) energy instead of a laser to treat your vision problem.

No cutting - helps minimize side effects and speeds recovery
Convenient and safe - your doctor performs the procedure in his or her office
Fast and easy - takes only 3 to 5 minutes and is virtually painless

How CK works

CK can change how the eye focuses light by reshaping the surface of your eye (cornea). When the shape is changed, light can be refocused on the correct part of your eye (retina). To produce the reshaping, CK uses the controlled release of RF energy to heat and shrink corneal tissue. This steepens the cornea and allows light to properly focus on the retina again.

The RF energy is gently applied to your eye in a circular pattern, avoiding your pupil entirely. The points form a ring of tightening (like a belt) that steepens your cornea.

What to expect during a CK procedure

Once your doctor has determined that you are a candidate for CK, your cornea will be mapped to determine its current and individual shape. This will be used to plan the procedure and measure results.

Before the procedure, the only requirements are to not wear makeup and arrange for transportation to and from the doctors office. The procedure itself is fast and simple.

Apply numbing - (anesthetic) eye drops
Imprint treatment pattern with rinse-away dye
Use Keratoplast Tip to apply RF energy

After the procedure, you may elect to wear dark glasses. There is generally no need to wear a patch. As with other vision procedures, you may experience some discomfort and light sensitivity for a few days.

Are You a candidate for CK?

If you are over 40 and wearing reading glasses or suffering from headaches after focusing on near objects, you may be a candidate for CK. Other criteria include:

No significant changes in your vision for 1 year
No chronic eye disorders
Not pregnant or nursing
No chronic illness or disease

Take the next step toward freedom

If you meet the above criteria, talk to your doctor and get a full eye examination. He or she will determine your specific vision problem and treatment plan. If your doctor determines that you have hyperopia, both eyes will be treated because both corneas need to be reshaped for clear vision. If you have presbyopia, your doctor may recommend "blended vision". Unlike "monovision" (where one eye is treated for near vision, leaving the untreated eye for distance vision), blended vision improves your ability to focus on near objects without sacrificing distance vision for the treated eye. This makes it easier for you to adjust to the two separate images. If you have not tolerated monovision treatments in the past, blended vision may be a better choice. Ask your doctor or ophthalmic technician for more information.

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