If you’ve been having issues with hyperopia or feel that you need reading glasses to function at your best, then it might be time to consider CK conductive keratoplasty. At the Kagan Institute in Los Angeles, CA, we offer conductive keratoplasty, which can help you put off the need for reading glasses.
What Is CK Conductive Keratoplasty?
This is a type of refractive eye surgery. It reduces the need for reading glasses in people at middle age and older by correcting mild cases of hyperopia. Hyperopia is also known as “farsightedness,” and as you develop this condition you find yourself able to see distant objects well while it becomes harder and harder to focus on objects close up.
How Treatment Works
Conductive keratoplasty uses radio waves to reshape your cornea, which restores your ability to focus on nearby objects. This treatment does not remove any tissues, and it only takes a few minutes to accomplish.
The low-level, radio-frequency energy used by Dr. Kagan works around the eye in a circular pattern. As it goes, it causes the connective tissues in the cornea to shrink wherever it passes. This causes the cornea to tighten and become slightly more steep, which changes the way the cornea perceives light rays. This brings near objects back into clear focus.
What Treatment Is Like
One of the best things about this treatment is how swift and simple it is. It only takes a few minutes to finish, but the results can be life-altering. Before the treatment begins, we will put numbing eye drops into your eyes so you’ll experience no pain or discomfort. Then, we use a special handheld instrument with a tiny probe smaller than a human hair to direct the radio-frequency energy exactly where it should go.
Once the procedure is over, most people are able to return to work and other normal activities the next day. If you have a job that requires intensive vision clarity, such as performing surgery, doing dental work, or some computer jobs, you may need to give your eyes a few days before going back to work.
What Results to Expect
For most people, the results are nearly immediate. In others, it will take a few weeks for your eyes to completely adjust. It all depends on the level of nearsightedness you started with as well as how you respond to the treatment. In general, the younger you are, the faster your eyes will adjust; but each person is unique.
Am I a Candidate for CK Conductive Keratoplasty?
To be eligible for this procedure, you should be able to say yes to a few important questions:
- Has your eyewear prescription been stable for at least one year?
- Are you over the age of 45?
- Are you willing to accept a slight blurring of your distance vision in exchange for perfect clarity close up?
- Have you had good distance vision all your life but are now needing reading glasses?
There are a few conditions that might mean conductive keratoplasty isn’t the right choice for you. If you have very severe dry eyes, this isn’t the best procedure, and it would be best to wait until you’ve treated and fully recovered before getting conductive keratoplasty. The radio-frequency this treatment uses also isn’t compatible with pacemakers, so if you have a pacemaker, talk to us about other treatments that can help. You also cannot get this treatment if you have:
- Herpes of the eye
- Corneal dystrophy
- Aggressive keloid formation
- Uncontrolled diabetes
- Uncontrolled vascular disease
- Uncontrolled autoimmune disease
At the Kagan Institute, we are committed to giving every patient the time, attention, and professional treatment they need to get the best vision possible. Whatever your condition, we’ll be happy to talk to you and help you decide the best way to get the vision you need.
FAQ About CK Conductive Keratoplasty
Is This Treatment Permanent?
CK will always be temporary because your eyes continue to change as you age. You may have noticed in looking at the reading glasses available at your local drugstore that they are billed by “power.” You often see +1.00 power readers for people in their 40s and +3.00 power readers for those in their 60s, with varying powers in between those ages. That’s because this condition tends to worsen with time.
That said, this is still a long-lasting treatment. Even if you eventually need reading glasses, you will still have excellent intermediate vision, so you will be able to see things like your cell phone or a computer screen without glasses. The main function of CK is to delay the need for reading glasses and to keep better function in the intermediate sight range even after reading glasses are needed.
Is This a Safe Treatment?
Radio-frequency is one of the most advanced techniques available. It is used all the time to treat the eyes, but also in back surgery, cosmetic treatments, cardiovascular procedures, orthopedics, and even prostate cancer therapy. This is a safe and proven treatment.
In addition, Dr. Kagan has been performing eye procedures and treatments for over a decade. In the hands of a professional, radio-frequency conductive keratoplasty is a safe and effective way to treat your nearsightedness.
What Do I Need to Do After Treatment?
Immediately after treatment, it’s usually best to have someone else around to drive you home. The day after conductive keratoplasty, you can usually return to your normal schedule, but you should take steps to protect your eyes. Resist any temptation to rub your eyes for a few weeks after treatment and wait to apply eye makeup until a week after you leave our office.
For a week or so, it’s best to avoid swimming, going in a hot tub, or doing anything else that might splash water into your eyes. When you shower, close your eyes and make sure the spray is directed away from your face. If you enjoy long, luxurious baths, this is the perfect time to indulge in these over a shower.
Will My Vision Fluctuate?
In some cases, your vision may seem to improve immediately after treatment and then regress. Most people don’t even notice this, and it’s nothing to worry about. The eye needs a little time to adjust to the changes, and this fluctuation is a sign that the treatment has been effective.
Am I Required to Have Both Eyes Done?
For some people, the right choice with conductive keratoplasty is to treat one eye. Effectively, this means that one eye retains perfect far vision while the other eye can focus clearly on things nearby. While this might sound strange, it actually works very well for many people. Our eyes, after all, are only one part of our ability to see. What happens in our brains is just as important, and our brains learn to compensate for changes in vision.
Over time, the brain will adjust to using one eye for long vision and the other eye for close up focusing. When that happens, you no longer perceive any difference between the eyes when you look at something. When you gaze at something at a distance, your distance eye tells your brain what’s there and the brain fills in the gap for the other eye. The opposite happens when you focus on something nearby. When you meet with us, we can discuss this and other options for getting you the best possible sight.
Do I Have to Wear a Patch?
Thankfully, after conductive keratoplasty, there is no need to wear any kind of patch or bandage. You will appreciate having some sunglasses when you go outside, but it’s always a good idea to wear UV protective sunglasses any time you are in the sun.
Why Does This Treatment Not Use Lasers?
This treatment is different from LASIK or other laser eye treatments. Lasers work by removing tissue in the eyes. Conductive keratoplasty works by shrinking the collagen, or connective tissue, within the eye in a controlled way. This shrinkage causes the cornea to restrict into a steeper shape, which makes it possible to focus on close up objects more easily.
Can This Treatment Help With Presbyopia?
In 2004, the FDA approved this treatment for use in correcting presbyopia. To treat presbyopia, only one eye is treated, as described above, so that you essentially have a kind of “stereo” vision in which one eye sees well far away and the other focuses on nearby objects.
I Have Myopia (Nearsightedness): Can Conductive Keratoplasty Help?
Nearsightedness requires a different procedure, and conductive keratoplasty cannot help with this problem. In order to correct nearsightedness, you need to flatten the cornea. This isn’t possible with radio-frequency treatment.
Is This Treatment Reversible?
This is not a reversible treatment. Once it has been done, the effect cannot be removed. That’s why Dr. Kagan spends so much time getting to know you and carefully laying out your options so you can be absolutely sure that conductive keratoplasty is right for you before you seek treatment.
About the Kagan Institute
We want you to feel confident in your eye healthcare providers. The Kagan Institute has been serving the Los Angeles area for 23 years and is committed to providing Californians with the best eye care available.
Dr. Arkady Kagan
Dr. Arkady Kagan has performed more than 11,000 major eye surgeries, more than 7,000 laser procedures, and nearly 3,500 corrective procedures in the course of his career. Dr. Kagan holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Washington University in St. Louis and an M.D. from Ohio State University College of Medicine. He has also completed a residency and several internships at the UCLA Medical Center and the Ohio State University College of Medicine.
Dr. Kagan is a board-certified member of the American Board of Ophthalmology and served as the Clinical Chief of Ophthalmology at Cedars Sinai Medical Center from 2000 to 2006. He is a member of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and the California Society of Cosmetic Surgeons.
Our Office
The Kagan Institute offers boutique private services focusing on ophthalmology, oculoplastic, and minimally invasive facial aesthetics. You can always expect attentive staff, knowledgeable medical professionals, minimal wait times, and a modern, clean office where you will feel comfortable and welcome. All procedures are performed by Dr. Kagan, so you never have to worry that an inexperienced medical student or technician will be performing any treatment or procedure on your delicate eyes!
Find Out If CK Conductive Keratoplasty Is Right for You
Farsightedness can make life difficult. There’s no reason to simply grin and bear it when conductive keratoplasty can improve your sight. Contact the Kagan Institute in Los Angeles, CA today and set up your first appointment with Dr. Kagan. We can’t wait to help you.
