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Conductive keratoplasty (CK) is a procedure that corrects farsightedness (with or without astigmatism).
It's not laser vision correction surgery. Instead, radiofrequency energy is used to change the curvature of the cornea.
This non-invasive procedure helps correct presbyopia and hyperopia (farsightedness). Presbyopia is a normal aging process that affects near visual acuity over time.
Some prefer CK for the following reasons:
Other eye surgeries can correct these refractive errors, like LASIK or photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). However a CK procedure is noninvasive, costs less, and is just as effective.
The CK procedure is trademarked by Refractec Inc. under the name NearVision CK.
Insurance companies don't cover conductive keratoplasty, making it an elective procedure. This means prices will differ depending on various factors. Some of these include the surgeon’s experience, the location of the clinic, and more.
The price range for this type of surgery runs between $1,000 and $2,000 per eye. However, the price can be higher.
It's best to speak with the ophthalmology clinic to consider all financing options, including monthly payments or an interest-fixed loan.
The CK procedure only takes a few minutes. An eye doctor uses a small tool (keratoplast tip) to send low-level radio frequencies into your cornea. This raises the temperature of the thickest layer of your cornea, shrinking the collagen in your tissue.
This shrinkage tightens the middle of your cornea, making your cornea more curved. This gives it stronger refractive power and corrects your near vision.
Most people notice better near vision immediately. However, it usually takes a few weeks for full correction to settle in.
Eye surgeons will use different techniques to perform conductive keratoplasty.
Here's an example of a CK procedure may occur:
The patient should stop wearing soft contact lenses at least 2 weeks before the examination. In the case of rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses, individuals should discontinue use at least 4 weeks before the procedure, plus 1 additional week for every 10 years.
Conductive keratoplasty offers many benefits:
Overall uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) of 20/40 or better has been reported in 89% of CK patients with hyperopia or astigmatism.2
Monovision is a type of vision correction where one eye is corrected for near vision while the other is stronger for distance vision. If you have presbyopia but good distance vision, your surgeon may recommend CK on one eye.
Before eye surgery, your doctor may advise you to try monovision correction with contact lenses. This will help you determine whether you can adapt to monovision.
If this is successful, you may be a good candidate for monovision CK.
The majority of CK side-effects are temporary, and include:
Those who aren't good candidates for LASIK surgery may find conductive keratoplasty more suitable.
Reasons can include problems with the eye’s anatomical structure (small corneal diameter, etc) or psychological concerns (fear of laser use or removal of corneal tissue, etc.).
The ideal candidate for conductive keratoplasty have the following characteristics:
Those who shouldn't undergo this type of refractive procedure include:
Those who have a pacemaker should not undergo this procedure, as radio waves emitted during the surgery may affect the device’s performance.
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