Conductive Keratoplasty
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NearVisionSM CK - Conductive Keratoplasty®
If you had perfect distance vision your whole life but are now struggling with reading up close, Stahl Eye Center is proud to offer an exciting procedure to help reduce your dependence on reading glasses. This procedure is called NearvisionSM CK®, and it is FDA-approved to treat presbyopia. This procedure is very safe and takes only minutes to perform.
What is presbyopia?
As people reach their early forties, they slowly lose their ability to focus their eyes on nearby objects. This affects the ability to read restaurant menus, newspapers, price tags and computer screens. Presbyopia is caused by the inability of the lens inside the eye to accommodate, or change its shape to focus on nearby objects. People who have had perfect distance vision their whole lives are among the first to develop presbyopia. People with presbyopia usually require reading glasses or bifocals for close vision.
What is farsightedness?
Farsightedness is caused by the cornea being too flat relative to the length of the eye. Farsighted people usually can compensate for their farsightedness while they're young but lose that ability as they reach the age of 40 and develop presbyopia. Eventually, corrective lenses are required for both distance and near vision.
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If you have presbyopia, you know what a hassle reading glasses can be. Imagine forgetting your reading glasses at home before an important meeting, and not being able to read important documents in front of you. Imagine going out to dinner and not being able to read the menu. You have probably experienced all these scenarios and are frustrated when you lose or break your reading glasses.
Now, imagine how happy you would be if you could turn back time and no longer depend on reading glasses. NearvisionSM CK® offers this opportunity. People turn back many aspects of aging- eliminating gray hair is a prime example of this. With CK, you can look and feel younger than ever by getting rid of reading glasses.
What is NearVision CK?
NearvisionSM CK® stands for conductive keratoplasty. CK, like LASIK, works by reshaping the cornea. CK uses radio waves applied with a very small instrument to the outer parts of the cornea in a ring-like pattern. This changes the corneal shape so you can focus better up close. The procedure is performed in the office, takes less than five minutes to complete, and is painless. Because the central cornea remains completely untouched, there are very few risks to the CK procedure. Radio waves are safe and used in many medical procedures.
How do I know if I am a candidate for CK?
If you are over the age of 40, in otherwise good health and have no previous vision problems, and need reading glasses to see up close, you may be a candidate for CK. The CK procedure can also be performed if you have had prior LASIK or PRK, but now require reading glasses. If you think you may qualify for the procedure, please call our office to schedule a free consultation. Additional tests are performed in the office to determine if you are a good candidate and how much CK is needed to make your eye(s) focus up close. Many people will need CK in only one eye, and we will determine which eye is better suited for near vision tasks.
The CK Procedure
Nearvision CK does not require a surgical facility and takes only a few minutes to perform. Prior to your procedure, your eye will be completely numbed with powerful eye drop anesthesia. Then you'll be asked to look at a microscope light. Your eye will be marked with a series of dots. Your surgeon will touch the dots with the probe, making a full circle around the outer margins of the cornea. There may be eight to 32 treatment points, depending on the amount of correction you need.
Some patients elect to have "blended vision" and have only one eye treated for near vision. This allows them to see clearly both near and far without dependence on readers. If you are not sure if blended vision is right for you, your doctor may be able to simulate this effect through contact lenses, although ultimately it is easier to adjust to blended vision after Nearvision CK than with contact lenses.
Because the NearVision CK procedure may cause temporary swelling of the cornea, some patients must wait a few days for the swelling to subside to appreciate their results, while others see improvement almost immediately.
For the first couple of days, you may experience some discomfort and light sensitivity as well as glare and halos. These side effects rapidly improve and medications can be used to relieve any discomfort. Most likely, you can resume normal activities the day after your procedure.
Realistic Expectations
The decision to have NearVision CK is an important one that only you can make. The goal of NearVision CK is to turn back the clock and restore your vision to where it was when you were in your thirties and reduce or eliminate your need for reading glasses. How far the clock turns back depends on how your eye responds and how it heals. Unfortunately, the clock never stops. As your eyes continue to age, you may require additional treatment in the future.
Complications with NearVision CK are extremely rare. It is considered to be a safe and effective procedure, but like any medical procedure, it does have some risks. You will be given information about potential risks and side effects of NearVision CK prior to signing a consent form to have the procedure. Be sure you have all your questions answered to your satisfaction.
The Next Step
If you are farsighted or dependent on reading glasses, you may be a candidate for NearVision CK. If your vision is within the corrective ranges for NearVision CK, a more comprehensive eye examination will be necessary to determine the health of your eyes. Your doctor will be able to help you determine if NearVision CK could be right for you.
Life is in the details….Isn’t it time you see them again?
NearVision CK is a registered service mark of Refractec, Inc.
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