Do you
find yourself squinting at the menu? Holding the newspaper at
arm's length in order to read it? Has it become difficult to read
the scores on your golf card? You are not alone. Millions of
people over age 40 find it difficult to see near without reading
glasses. South Coast Laser Eye Centers now offers CK (Conductive Keratoplasty), an FDA-approved technology designed to lessen your
dependence on reading glasses.
Vision loss and age
When most people enter their forties, their eyes begin losing
their ability to easily focus on close objects. This is part of
the normal process of aging. Typically this is the result of
presbyopia or farsightedness. Many people may require bifocals in
their forties, and those who never needed glasses before may
require reading glasses.
CK may
improve your near vision, allowing you to reduce your dependence
on reading glasses. This advancement in vision is a brief,
outpatient procedure that uses radiofrequency (RF) energy instead
of a laser.
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CK may reduce your need for glasses or contact lenses used to
see up close.
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You may find, after having CK, that you wear your glasses less
or only during certain activities.
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CK may even eliminate your need for glasses or contact lenses
used to see near.
How CK works
CK
changes how light is focused on your eye by reshaping the surface
of your eye (cornea).
When
the shape is changed, light can be refocused on the correct part
of your eye (retina). CK uses the controlled release of RF energy
to shrink corneal tissue. This reshaping steepens the cornea and
allows light to properly focus on the retina again, improving near
vision.
CK
is performed using a small probe, thinner than a strand of human
hair, that releases radiofrequency (RF) energy.
The
probe is applied in a circular pattern on the outer cornea to
shrink small areas of corneal tissue. This circular shrinkage
pattern creates a constrictive band (like the tightening of a
belt), increasing the overall curvature of the cornea. The
procedure, which takes less than three minutes, is done in-office
with only topical anesthesia (eye drops). CK is the first
alternative to laser for hyperopia.
Is CK right for you?
CK is for people over age 40 who want to improve their near
vision. If you are over the age of 40 and depend on reading
glasses, you may be a candidate for CK. Other criteria include:
