New Procedure Corrects Near-Sightedness With Radio Waves
Nov 7, 2006
A new procedure approved by the FDA in 2004 can correct presbyopa by using radio waves to reshape the cornea.
The process, called conductive keratoplasty (CK) may help many of the estimated 90 million people in the United States who are affected by presbyopa, which is the loss of near-vision that often occurs as people age.
The process uses mild heat from a device that emits radio waves to shape the surface of the cornea without a scalpel or laser. Eye drops are used to anesthetize one eye.
The operation is performed on only one eye. “Basically the way we can achieve both good distance and good reading vision is to have one eye for each. … People think I’m from Mars when I tell them they’ll have one eye for this and one for that. But it’s called monovision and it’s the way to do it,” said Dr. Mark Werner, who performs the surgery.
“They just numbed my eye a little, and I felt almost nothing, just like somebody touched me. The whole thing took less than half an hour from start to finish, and within seconds after it was finished, I looked down at my watch, and I could see the numbers. My God, I hadn’t done that in a long time,” said one satisfied patient, Sita Sookralli.
“She’s perfect,” said Dr. Thierry Hufnagel who performed the surgery. “Well, as near perfect as can be.”
Am I a good candidate for conductive keratoplasty?
Ideal candidates are those who never wore glasses before, but suddenly found themselves unable to read a menu, or other small print despite the fact that they have otherwise healthy eyes. Those who are older, and have worn glasses before can also be helped. The ideal candidate will have good far-vision, and will not have had a prescription change in the past year. Some patients report feeling “off-balance,” so it is recommended that those contemplating the procedure wear a contact lens on one eye to see how they cope with different eye strengths.
Side Effects
The only side effects reported so far have been mild. Some patients may experience light sensitivity, the feeling of a foreign object in the eye, or vision fluctuations for a few weeks, but these effects are typically temporary.
“I doubt there will be any serious complications down the road,” said one doctor, Robert C. Ckyiert. “But I prefer LASIK because it’s been around a lot longer, it’s predictable and reliable. … I’ve done it for ten years and find it extremely safe.
Considering correcting your vision? Please contact us today to learn more about which treatment option is best for you.
