What
is Conductive KeratoplastySM?
Conductive KeratoplastySM (CK)SM is a surgical procedure
that corrects hyperopia, or farsightedness
in people over the age of 40. The
procedure is generally safer and more
effective than many refractive
surgery techniques. It involves
the application of high-frequency
radio waves through the thin tip of
a handheld instrument. The tip is
inserted at various spots around the
periphery of the cornea, shrinking
the tissue and altering the cornea’s
shape to improve vision. The primary
drawback of CKSM is that, in some patients,
the eye fails to retain its new shape
and some of the improvement is lost.
Who
is a candidate for Conductive KeratoplastySM?
For
some, Conductive KeratoplastySM represents
an incredible avenue to improved vision.
However, it is not for everyone. Conditions
that may make Conductive KeratoplastySM a poor option for vision correction
include:
- Severe hyperopia
- Being under 40 years old
- Recent eye surgery
- Unstable vision
- Eye disorders
- Recent or expected pregnancy
- An abnormally shaped cornea
- A thin cornea
- Herpes in the eye
- Immune system problems
- Diabetes
- Electrical implants such as pacemakers
In addition, it
is important that potential patients
realize that CKSM can only correct hyperopia,
not presbyopia
(the inability of the eye’s
lens to change focus).
How
is Conductive KeratoplastySM surgery
performed?
At
the start of Conductive KeratoplastySM,
the eye surgeon administers an anesthetic.
Usually, anesthetic eye drops are
all that are necessary, but for particularly
anxious patients, a sedative may be
given as well. Then, the surgeon places
a device called a lid speculum over
the eye. This machine holds the eyelids
open while the operation is taking
place.
The
keratoplasty instrument is a hand
held tool with a very thin, short
wire at the end. The tip of the wire
releases radio waves into the cornea.
The waves heat the tissue, causing
it to shrink. The instrument is inserted
at various points around the periphery
of the cornea, eventually creating
a band of constricted tissue. The
constrictive band makes the profile
of the cornea steeper: the periphery
of the cornea is depressed, increasing
the slope up to the center of the
eye. During CKSM, the patient sometimes
feels pressure on the eye, but little
else.
What
is recovery like?
After
Conductive KeratoplastySM, the doctor
usually recommends clear, non-prescription
contact lenses for protection and
comfort. These should be worn for
at least a few days. For about a week,
the patient should avoid placing strain
on the eyes from activities such as
working at a computer. The patient
should also refrain from getting the
eyes wet or rubbing them too hard
for a few weeks.
There
is some discomfort associated with
Conductive KeratoplastySM. A common
complaint is that it feels as though
there is something in the eye. Usually,
most of the discomfort fades after
the first few days.
The
patient’s vision can fluctuate
in the days or weeks following CKSM surgery. Initially, the procedure
can seem to have overcorrected the
problem, making the patient nearsighted.
However, the patient’s vision
is still in the process of settling,
and can undergo several such changes
during the weeks just after surgery.
The vision usually reaches its long-term
state in about two weeks.
In
a small percentage of patients, the
visual improvement from CKSM surgery
is lost after six months to a year.
The
most serious potential consequence
of Conductive KeratoplastySM is that
it has been found to induce astigmatism
in about 1% of patients.
Overall,
the results of Conductive KeratoplastySM have been as good
or better than LASIK
and non-contact laser thermal keratoplasty.
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