Is conductive keratoplasty the treatment of choice for presbyopia?

Abstract

Conductive keratoplasty (CK) is a radiofrequency-based treatment that steepens the central cornea. The procedure is especially effective at improving the near vision of presbyopic hyperopes or emmetropes through the induction of a mild myopia in the nondominant eye. A large proportion of properly selected patients gain near vision without marked loss of binocular distance vision. The procedure has also been used to treat lowto-moderate hyperopia, presbyopia in patients who previously had laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and presbyopia in postcataract patients to improve their near vision. CK is distinguished for its safety; studies demonstrated no loss of best-corrected visual acuity at 1 year and none of the complications associated with LASIK, such as flap problems, dry eyes or diffuse lamellar keratitis. The study patients also maintained stereopsis and did not lose contrast sensitivity compared with preoperatively. The NearVision CK with LightTouch nomogram and technique, currently under investigation, is demonstrating excellent clinical results.