Abstract
Purpose: :
To assess the long–term safety, efficacy, predictability, and stability of conductive keratoplasty (CK) for the treatment of presbyopia.
Methods: :
In a retrospective chart review of 63 patients who were treated for presbyopia with Refractec ViewPoint CK system were evaluated at 1 month, 3 months, and 12 months for safety, efficacy, predictability and stability. All patients received treatment on their nondominant eye. Preoperatively, the mean intended correction was +1.75 diopters with treatment range of +0.75 to +2.25. All eyes were treated with traditional pressure CK and not with Light Touch CK. The treatment consisted of 8 to 32 spots of radio–frequency current to treat +0.75D to +2.25D of presbyopia. The mean age was 51.45.
Results: :
At preoperative examination, uncorrected near visual acuity was J3 or better in 35% of patients with zero patients having an uncorrected near visual acuity of J1. At the 3 month post–op, uncorrected near visual acuity was J1 in 56% of the patients and J3 or better in 98% of the patients. At preoperative examination, uncorrected distance visual acuity was 20/20 in 63% of eyes. At the 3 month post–op, uncorrected distance visual acuity of 20/20 was recorded in 28% of the treated eyes. Mean myopic overcorrection of – 0.75 D was observed at the 1 month post–op examination in 78% of the patients which resolved by the 3 month examination. Sixty–nine percent of patients treated had a manifest refractive spherical equivalent (MRSE) within +/– 0.50 D of intended goal at the 3 month examination. Of the 63 patients treated, 20.6% of patients experienced an induced astigmatism greater than + 0.50 D. Eleven patients needed retreatment for induced astigmatism and 4.76% of patients required enhancements for undercorrection. There were no reported cases of intraoperative complications or postoperative infections.
Conclusions: :
Results show that Conductive Keratoplasty for the correction of presbyopia is a safe, effective and predictable procedure. In our study, loss of distance visual acuity was recorded with higher number of treatment spots. An initial overcorrection measured at the 1 month examination resolved by the 3 month examination. Long–term stability beyond 12 months was not established in our study and further investigation is required.
Keywords: refractive surgery • presbyopia • refractive surgery: other technologies