A natural part of aging, people over the age of 40 begin to develop presbyopia and they start to have difficulty reading a menu, newspaper, computer, and other close-up objects. Until recently, reading glasses, bifocals, or multifocal lenses were the only solutions. On the cutting edge of technology, the Herzig Eye Institute offers baby boomers a number of effective alternatives and more permanent options for the treatment of presbyopia, including the innovative new NearVision CK, Monovision LASIK, the Refractive Lens Exchange and the Implantable Contact Lens (ICL).
"Presbyopia affects everyone over 40, whether they have had perfect vision all their life or have undergone laser eye surgery to achieve perfect vision," states Dr. Sheldon Herzig, Medical Director, Herzig Eye Institute. "As the body ages, the natural lens of the eye loses part of its elasticity and presbyopia, the loss of reading vision, begins to develop. At the Herzig Eye Institute there are a number of options for patients to correct presbyopia. We consult with each patient to determine the best option for them."
Traditional LASIK surgery frees the majority of patients from the need to wear glasses or contacts until they reach about forty and presbyopia sets in. Monovision LASIK adjusts one eye to see things close up, while the other eye sees things farther away. The brain integrates the visual information from both eyes and adjusts either immediately or within a few weeks to having each eye focus at a different distance.
(Clear Lens Extraction)
Used for patients with very high levels of nearsightedness, farsightedness and early lens opacities, Refractive Lens Exchange is the same procedure as modern cataract surgery, but can be performed before a cataract is detected.
Unlike laser vision correction, which alters the shape of the cornea, Refractive Lens Exchange changes the focusing power of the eye by removing the eye’s natural lens and replacing it with a better lens. In effect, the lens implant acts like a permanent contact lens within the eye, with newer lens designs offering both distance and reading vision.
At the beginning of the surgery, a small incision— less than an eighth of an inch, or 2.75 mm—is made in the periphery of the cornea. A delicate instrument is inserted through the incision to create a circular opening in the front of the lens capsule. A suction tip is then inserted, and the gel-like natural lens is removed and a lens implant is inserted into the lens capsule.
The Implantable Contact Lens is used for patients who are at least 18 years of age with high levels of myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism that are too extreme for laser vision correction, and for whom laser vision correction on the cornea is not safe.
The ICLT is a very thin intraocular lens that is inserted through a small 3 mm incision at the edge of the cornea. Unlike Refractive Lens Exchange, where an intraocular lens replaces the eye's natural lens, the ICLT is designed to rest in front of the eye's natural lens, just behind the iris, and can later be removed. The surgery typically takes 10 to 15 minutes to perform, with only one eye being treated at a time. The second eye is usually treated 1-7 days after the first eye.
Leading pioneers in vision correction, the Herzig Eye Institute introduces the innovative new NearVision CK procedure for the treatment of presbyopia in baby boomers.
"For patients over 45 who have good distance vision in both eyes either naturally or as a result of previous laser surgery or cataract extraction, we have introduced a new procedure called NearVision CK,"
says Dr. Herzig. "If patients can adapt to monovision using contacts, the Herzig Eye Institute can perform NearVision CK to achieve a near vision goal to help eliminate the need for reading glasses."
NearVision CK is a non-laser, no incision, and no tissue removal radio frequency (RF) energy that reshapes the cornea to adjust its refractive attributes to bring near vision back into focus. A small pen shaped instrument with a Keroplast Tip that emits controlled RF is inserted around the cornea in a circular pattern that shrinks collagen and makes the eye steeper. Studies show that the depth of shrinkage determines the degree of corneal correction. The circular treatment tightens the cornea, increasing its curvature, thereby giving better near vision.
The best candidates for NearVision CK are:
- 45 years or older
- See well at distance (without glasses or contacts)
- Are tired of wearing reading glasses or magnifiers for all near vision tasks
- Post LASIK patients that had LASIK over one year ago
- Post cataract patients that want less dependence on reading glasses
NearVision CK is typically performed on just one eye. It is a safe, fast, and an in-office treatment that is painless. Any discomfort subsides within 24 hours of the procedure and most people can return to work the next day. Patients will experience immediate improvement in vision after the procedure but the eye usually only adjusts to the final level of reading vision after several weeks.
NearVision CK is a temporary solution, as Presbyopia is a progressive condition and only the patient’s current needs can be treated with the procedure. Every patient is different and additional needs will increase as the eyes continue to age and more treatment may be required. NearVision CK can be performed up to three times on most patients with results lasting for one to three years.
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Discover CK® NearVision
Breakthrough Technology
Discover CK® NearVision
CK® for the correction of Presbyopia and a reduction of the need for reading glasses
- Presbyopia is an age-related eye condition that affects everyone some time after age 40, making it difficult to focus on objects up close, thus the need for reading glasses.
- CK® (Conductive Keratoplasty®) is a non-laser, no incision, no tissue removal, radio-frequency energy that gently contours the peripheral cornea to bring near vision back into focus.
- CK® is a safe, quick, in-office treatment.
- You are 45 years or older?
- You see well at distance (without glasses or contacts?)
- You are tired of wearing readers/magnifiers for all near vision tasks.
- You are a post LASIK patient that had LASIK over 1 year ago.
- You are a post Cataract patient that would like to have less dependence on your reading glasses.
- The near vision goal of the treatment is “functional” (or “get around”) vision without reading glasses.
- This is a temporary solution for Presbyopia. Presbyopia is a progressive condition which will change your needs with time. We can only treat your current requirements at this time. Every patient is different, but the procedure can last between one and three years depending on the individual before another CK® procedure may be desired. The procedure can be performed safely up to three times on most patients.
We encourage you to book a complimentary consultation to see if CK® is right for you!
Will my vision improve immediately after the NearVision CK® procedure?
Patients usually notice an immediate improvement in their vision after the NearVision CK® procedure. However, it usually takes several weeks for the eyes to adjust to the final level of treatment.
Will my vision fluctuate after NearVision CK® is performed?
Most patients will experience mild fluctuation in their vision after the procedure, but few notice it. Any fluctuation will usually subside within a few weeks. Over time, your Presbyopia will progress which may lead to another CK® procedure, the return to reading glasses or possibly another refractive solution.
Are both eyes treated on the same day?
NearVision CK® is typically performed on just one eye. However, if a patient's prescription requires treatment in both eyes, CK® is typically performed on both eyes on the same day - one eye immediately after the other. Most patients are comfortable having the CK® procedure performed on both eyes on the same day because the procedure is minimally invasive, takes less than three minutes, and is done in-office with only topical anesthesia.
Will I have to wear patches over my eyes after the NearVision CK® procedure?
You will not have to wear patches or bandages.
How soon can I return to work?
With NearVision CK®, the majority of patients are able to return to work and other normal activities the day after their procedure. Although recovery is fairly quick, it is advisable to be careful with your eyes and to avoid any strain. Those whose jobs demand intense clarity of vision (such as dentistry, surgery or computer work) may want to give their eyes some extra rest for several days following the procedure before going back to work.
What will I feel during the NearVision CK® procedure?
The NearVision CK® procedure is considered painless. You will be aware of a support (speculum), which helps to hold your eye open. The most common sensation that patients experience is a feeling of pressure on the eye. After the procedure, there may be some mild discomfort, and many patients experience a foreign-object sensation or "scratchiness" in the eye. This usually subsides within 24 hours of the procedure.
To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Herzig, contact our office today.
