CK - Conductive Keratoplasty

CK is a non-laser treatment most commonly used for baby-boomers who are tired of their reading glasses. A special probe introduces an electrical current to the peripheral cornea, shrinking the corneal fibers. The electrical current acts like a purse-string, causing the central cornea to steepen, thus improving the near vision in the treated eye. The procedure takes less than five minutes and is essentially painless. The major advantage of CK (Conductive Keratoplasty) is its relative safety.

Our experience with CK began during the FDA clinical trials, which began in 1998. While CK gained FDA approval in 2002 for the treatment of farsightedness, we have found that the best candidates are patients over the age of 45 with excellent distance vision but with difficulties seeing near items such as their cell-phone, wrist-watch, and price tags. In 2004, CK became the first FDA approved procedure for this indication, known as “presbyopia.”

Many Conductive Keratoplasty patients only need one eye, usually their non-dominant eye, treated. The recovery of near vision is almost immediate, although patients usually notice a decrease in the distance vision of the treated eye which improves with time. Most CK patients may return to work within one to three days following their correction procedure. Because the condition of presbyopia progresses as we age (ie: people need stronger reading glasses at age 65 than at age 45), and because the corneal steepening effect of CK (conductive keratoplaty) can diminish with time, extra CK treatment may be needed within three to five years of the initial procedure. Because of the safety and benefits of CK, the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) has approved the use of CK for pilots.

 

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Dr. Davidorf and colleagues published their data from the FDA Clinical Trial of CK in the Journal Ophthalmology in 2002. In this LA Times article, Dr. Davidorf describes the best CK candidate as a patient over the age of 50 with perfect distance vision who is tired of their reading glasses.

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