For more information on the refractive eye surgery conductive keratoplasty ( CK), contact our San Antonio, Gonzales, or Floresville offices. Arrange a comprehensive vision examination to determine if you are a candidate.






Conductive Keratoplasty (CK) — Refractive Surgery for Vision Correction

Conductive keratoplasty ( CK) is an exciting new surgical procedure intended to correct mild to moderate hyperopia (farsightedness) and presbyopia — a condition which results from the natural aging process and compromises near vision. Over 60 million Americans are afflicted with presbyopia, causing many people over the age of 45 to need glasses for reading. Conductive keratoplasty ( CK) and other refractive surgery procedures performed at our San Antonio, Gonzales, and Floresville offices successfully reduce most of our patients' dependence on glasses for another five to ten years after surgery.

The CK Procedure

Conductive keratoplasty is a new form of refractive surgery that uses minimally invasive radio frequency energy instead of a laser (LASIK) to alter the shape of the cornea. The mild heat produced by the radio waves is used to shrink the collagen in the periphery of the cornea. Our ophthalmologists will first insert anesthetic eye drops and apply a speculum to prevent blinking during the surgery.

Using a rinse-away dye, one of our surgeons will imprint a treatment pattern on the cornea, showing where the radio frequency energy should be applied. Both eyes can be treated in a single office visit — only a few seconds of treatment is required for each eye. The CK procedure is painless, although some patients report slight pressure on the eye. For more information about refractive surgery and the conductive keratoplasty ( CK) procedure, contact our San Antonio, Gonzales, and Floresville, Texas ophthalmologists.

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Benefits of Conductive Keratoplasty

Conductive keratoplasty has allowed many people to lessen or eliminate their dependence on glasses or reading aids. The CK procedure itself, conducted after extensive testing and measurement of the eye(s), takes only a few minutes at one of our four locations around San Antonio. Benefits of this type of refractive surgery include:

  • Provides immediate vision improvement
  • Noninvasive
  • Requires no cutting or removal of tissue
  • Very safe

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Risks of Conductive Keratoplasty

Side effects and complications of CK are very rare. However, CK is a refractive surgery, and as such, potential side effects do exist. Possible complications include:

  • Visual problems (starbursts, halos, hazy vision or double vision)
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Under- or over-correction
  • Anisometropia (varying degrees of focusing ability between eyes)
  • Dry eye
  • Eye irritation after the procedure
  • Infection

Each of these side effects may be temporary, and steps can be taken to eliminate or lessen them. Follow-up appointments and aftercare will be arranged to monitor progress and ensure successful treatment.

If you wear a pacemaker for regulating your heart or similar electronic equipment, you should not undergo conductive keratoplasty ( CK) due to the possibility that radio frequency waves will interfere with its proper function.

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Postoperative Care

After conductive keratoplasty, you should notice an immediate improvement in vision. However, it may take several weeks for your eyes to adjust to their final correction. Fluctuating vision in the first week or so is common during this period of adjustment. For the first day or two, your eyes may water, and you may experience some discomfort or irritation. Eye drops will be prescribed to prevent infection and reduce inflammation.

After the procedure you will be able to function normally, though for the first week you may be slightly nearsighted and experience sensitivity to bright light. Although the results of CK are long-lasting, they are not permanent. Your eyes will continue to age. New surgical techniques have assisted with achieving a more stable refraction. Re-treatment is an option, as are other kinds of refractive surgery.

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Am I a Candidate for Refractive Surgery?

The ideal candidate for CK is over 18 years of age (though most patients are over 40) and has healthy corneas. Candidates must not have had a significant increase in their prescription in the last 12 months. The best candidates for Conductive keratoplasty have good far distance vision without glasses or contacts but have trouble seeing objects that are near. People with certain medical conditions or women who are pregnant may not be good candidates for refractive surgery.

Only after thorough testing can your doctor determine whether or not you would be a good candidate for the procedure. To arrange a comprehensive eye exam with our conductive keratoplasty (CK) and refractive eye surgery specialists, contact our San Antonio, Gonzales or Floresville ophthalmology offices today. If you are nearsighted when you develop presbyopia, LASIK may be the better option for you. Our surgeons, Dr. David Shulman and Dr. Fernando Trujillo, are extensively experienced in many procedures (including LASIK, CK, and photorefractive keratectomy). We can help find the corrective option right for you.

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Contact our CK Surgeons in San Antonio, Gonzales, and Floresville

If you would like to know more about Conductive Keratoplasty ( CK) or other types of refractive eye surgery, contact our San Antonio, Gonzales or Floresville offices today. Arrange a thorough ophthalmology exam to determine if you are a candidate for any of our corrective procedures.

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