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Beware of Post-LASIK Ectasia.
Soothing Severe Sands of Sahara
Phakic Refractive IOLs Gaining Popularity.
Encouraging Early Results with New Accommodating IOL...
Artisan Phakic Toric IOL Safe, Effective in European Study
Presbyopic Phakic IOL Promising in French Trial
Patients Like ICLs, But Cataracts Still a Concern
Cadaver Studies Aid Phakic IOL Research
The Shiley Eye Center Rising Star in the West
5.5 mm Incisions Can be Safely Closed without Sutures
Post-LASIK CK Safe and Effective ...
FDA Phase III Trial Confirms Safety ...
PRL Treatment of High Ammetropias Looks Promising
Are Angle-Supported Anterior Chamber Phakic IOLs Safe?
Highlights of The Annual Meeting of The United Kingdom and Ireland ...
LASEK a Good Alternative to LASIK for Low Myopia
Patients More Comfortable after LASIK Than LASEK In Short Term
Dutch Study Shows Visual Field Loss More Common Than Expected
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Post-LASIK CK Safe and Effective Treatment For Residual Hyperopia

By Sean Henahan

BARCELONA - Conductive keratoplasty could offer a safe and effective approach to the treatment of residual hyperopia following previous corneal refractive surgery, according to a preliminary study presented at Sixth Winter Refractive Surgery Meeting of the ESCRS here.

With the recent announcement of positive one year results of conductive keratoplasty for primary treatment of moderate hyperopia (see related article, page 24), the search is on for potential secondary indications. Javier Gomez, MD, Ophthalmology Institute of Alicante, presented the results of a small prospective study of conductive keratoplasty in patients who had undergone previous refractive procedures.

In that study, ten eyes of ten patients with residual hyperopia underwent treatment with conductive keratoplasty. These patients had previously undergone treatment with LASIK, PRK or LTK.

Dr. Gomez presented follow-up data ranging from three to nine months. Uncorrected distance visual acuity changed from a pre-operative level of 0.4 D +/-0.17 (range 0.2 to 0.8 D) to a mean of 0.6 D +/- 0.3 at three months, with a range of 0.1 D to 1.0 D. Uncorrected preoperative near vision was 0.3 D +/- 0.33 D (range 0.05 to 0.7 D), changing to 0.5 D +/-0.3 (range 0.2 to 1.0) at three months.

The mean pre-operative sphere was 1.3 D +/- 0.9 (range -1.00 to +3.5). At three months the mean sphere measurement was 0.3 D +/- 1.22 (range -3.5 to +1.5). Mean cylinder changed from a pre-operative value of 0.5 D +/-1.2 (range -3.5 to +2.25) to a mean of 0.9 D +/-0.6 (range 0.00-+2.25) at three months. Overall, 76% of patients achieved a predicted benefit at three months, Dr. Gomez said, noting:

<"In general, CK does not produce important changes in astigmatism. The changes we saw in this study were all within one dioptre.">
The study was too small to determine any differences in treatment effect between the LASIK, PRK and LTK patients. The study will be continued and expanded, he said, adding:

"This early study indicates that conductive keratoplasty may prove to be a safe and effective alternative for the treatment of residual hyperopia following previous corneal refractive surgery."

Conductive keratoplasty does not require a laser or a flap. A handheld probe delivers radiofrequency energy to the stroma via a stainless steel needle 450 microns long and 90 microns wide. The new device delivers an electrical current to shrink spots of collagen in the cornea.