Ditch the Reading Glasses Through Conductive Keratoplasty

Whipping out your reading glasses at a restaurant to read a menu is a telltale sign of middle age. This age-related vision condition is nearly a universal issue that affects people over age 40. 

Many people just accept the fact that having trouble reading medication labels, menus, and more is now impossible without reading glasses. Most accept it as a part of getting older. 

And, as with many changes that come with aging, such as gray hair, wrinkles, or menopause, there is no cure. But there are ways to treat this condition so that you can read like your younger self again. One of the most innovative procedures is called conductive keratoplasty, a simple surgery that takes only three minutes or less at Ventura Eye Institute located in Camarillo, California.  

What is presbyopia?

Presbyopia is a common vision disorder that impairs your ability to see or focus on objects up close. It affects nearly all people sometime after they turn 40. About 1.8 billion (yes, billion) people worldwide are affected by presbyopia. 

When you’re younger, your lens and cornea (the clear front layer of your eye) are flexible. These important components bend light as it enters your eye to focus on your retina. Your retina converts this light into electric signals and sends them to your brain to be converted into images. As we get older, our lens and cornea become less flexible and unable to bend light correctly. 

This inability to send light to the retina impacts your ability to see close objects. Small print and fine details become blurry.  

What is conductive keratoplasty?

Conductive keratoplasty, commonly referred to as CK, is an FDA-approved non-invasive eye surgery that corrects this condition. CK uses radio waves to heat and reshapes your cornea so that light can be focused on your retina. After the procedure, expect not to have to reach for your reading glasses as often.  

What happens during conductive keratoplasty?

This in-office procedure takes a few minutes to complete, and you won’t even need to be put under general anesthesia. During the procedure, Dr. Michael Ragen, the first eye surgeon in the region certified to perform this surgery, uses a hand-held probe to deliver radio waves to appropriate parts of your cornea.

CK is pain-free with few complications. After the procedure, you’ll go home with eye drops to prevent infection and reduce inflammation and other instructions to keep your eyes healthy. Some people experience sensitivity and discomfort for a few days following the procedure, but any discomfort is typically minimal. 

If you’re interested in improving your vision and tossing out your reading glasses, call Ventura Eye Institute to learn more about CK and to see if you’re a good candidate for this innovative procedure. You can also make an appointment online through this website.