Temporary induction of myopia (-1.00 D to -2.00 D)to improve near vision in the non-dominant eye of presbyopic hyperopes or presbyopic emmetropes by using a hyperopic treatment ranging from 1.00 to 2.25D. US FDA approval was given for this indication in March 2004.
Conductive keratoplasty is a thermokeratoplasty technique that uses radio frequency energy to heat and reshape the cornea.
Conductive Keratoplasty or CK is "laser less." It involves the controlled intrastromal delivery of radio frequency energy by means of a contact probe tip.
Description of the CK equipment:
The CK procedure is performed with the ViewPoint CK System. The console is about the size of a VCR and is portable. The CK handpiece & the speculum are connected to the console using colour - coded cables.
Selection criteria for Conductive keratoplasty
Patient above 45 years of age
<+0.75 D for distance in nondominant eye
<1.0 D astigmatism
Good bilateral BCVA
<2+ nuclear sclerosis
The CK procedure:
CK is a very simple procedure to perform. The entire procedure takes about 3 minutes.
Step 1
Topical anesthesia (Proparacaine 0.5% drops) is instilled.
Step 2 The lid speculum (return path for energy) provided with the system is then inserted.
Step 3
The cornea is marked using the standard CK marker.The Keratoplast tip is inserted into the cornea into these pre - marked optical zone marks.
Step 4
The Keratoplast tip is inserted into each corneal marking of a chosen optical zone in a sequential manner & the foot pedal is depressed to deliver the radio frequency energy. The optical zone to be treated is decided based on the degree of error being corrected.
Step 5
Satisfactory sphericity is then confirmed
Mechanism of Conductive keratoplasty
A circle of cylindrical treatment spots applied in the mid-peripheral cornea results in a band of tightening and the subsequent central corneal steepening and peripheral flattening. The effect of Conductive Keratoplasty lasts for 3 - 5 years and reduces your dependence on reading glasses. A repeat treatment can be done after 3 - 5 years if presbyopia progresses.
