Thermal Procedures

There are two main types of thermal procedures that may be used in corrective visual surgery: Laser Thermal Keratoplasty (LTK) and Conductive Keratoplasty (CK). These two treatments apply heat to the cornea in different ways and for different reasons. Thermal procedures are often combined with other eye surgery methods like LASIK.

In most cases, thermal procedures are undertaken in order to create a protrusion of the cornea where none existed before. A flat cornea can cause farsightedness, or presbyopia, in people. By applying heat to the periphery of the cornea, a surgeon can shrink the collagen in that tissue. The contacting of the collagen would pull the cornea upwards and outwards, causing a restoration of vision.

Your doctor will go through all possible options with the potential patient in a preoperative meeting. The thickness of the patient's cornea will be examined as well. These two thermal procedures take very little time to do and the patient can usually leave shortly after surgery.

Laser Thermal Keratoplasty uses a holmium laser to heat the cornea. The laser is applied in brief and highly directed spurts to the periphery of the cornea. The whole procedure usually takes just a few seconds and has very infrequent side effects.

Conductive Keratoplasty uses radio waves to conduct its heat. The energy is produced through a special probe and when it hits the cornea, the corneal tissue reacts thermally and creates a uniform heating. This heating shrinks the collagen tissue and creates the necessary protrusion of the cornea itself.

Both methods are approved by the FDA and are often used in combination with other eye treatment options like LASIK. Only an experienced eye surgeon who has years of LASIK training and experience can determine which option will be right for patients with farsightedness. Combining thermal procedures with LASIK has been especially successful and patients experience very little side effects or discomfort, and have lifelong successful results.

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