New Outlook Ophthalmologist Center: Presbyopia/CK

"What is Presbyopia?"

Everyone's vision decreases with age. By their mid-forties, most people notice a decline in their near vision. Reading becomes more difficult, even when books or newspapers are held at arm's length. This age-related vision loss is known as presbyopia.

Fortunately, San Diego patients can find relief from the symptoms of presbyopia at New Outlook. In the past, it was believed that presbyopia occurred due to a loss of flexibility in the eye's lens that occurred naturally with age. Lens flexibility is important because the lens must change shape to properly focus on objects at different distances. When the lens becomes less supple, it is more difficult for the eye to focus on near objects. Newer research indicates that, as the lens of the eye continues to grow over the years, a loosening of the bond between the lens and the muscles that control its shape may be the root cause of presbyopia.

Conductive Keratoplasty

Conductive Keratoplasty, commonly known as CK, uses radio frequency energy to strengthen your eye's (or eyes') ability to read. CK is one of the safest refractive procedures ever approved by the FDA for treating presbyopia. CK allows us to 'turn back the clock' to a time when you weren't 100 percent dependent on reading glasses to use your computer or cell phone, read a price tag, or see the menu at a restaurant. CK can restore your independence from reading glasses and give you vision for most of your daily activities. Conductive Keratoplasty involves placing one, two, or three concentric rings of CK spots on your cornea to reshape the front of your eye.

Radio frequency emitted from the tip of the sterile probe it is converted by the natural resistance of your cornea into heat that creates a stable positive change in the curvature of the cornea. The spots are placed in less than three minutes using anesthetic eye drops that completely numb your eye (no lasers or blades are used). After your Conductive Keratoplasty surgery, the improvement in your ability to see up close will be immediate. Patients typically experience 24-48 hours of mild dry eye sensations, as well as temporary bright light sensitivity.