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Experience Canterbury Eye Specialists Conductive Keratoplasty (CK) is an exciting new procedure designed to treat farsightedness and presbyopia without using a laser.
Laser surgery corrects focusing problems by altering the shape of the cornea at the front of the eye.
 
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What is Myopia?
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In the normal eye, light bends through the cornea and lens to focus on the retina. With myopia (nearsightedness - place cursor over image) the eye is longer (or cornea is steeper) causing light to focus in front of the retina. The image is therefore out of focus on the retina and vision is blurred.
  Laser Eye Surgery
How does
laser surgery work?
Laser surgery corrects focusing problems by altering the shape of the cornea at the front of the eye.		   Laser surgery has been around since the early 90’s, and several procedures have evolved which are suitable for different situations. These include PRK, Lasik and Lasek.
The excimer laser removes corneal tissue to reshape the cornea. This is done either on the surface of the eye (PRK and Lasek) or under a flap of cornea (Lasik). The laser makes the cornea flatter for myopia and steeper for hyperopia.

What disorders can laser surgery treat?
Laser energy is extremely precise and can be used to treat:
Myopia (short-sightedness) up to - 8 dioptres
Hyperopia (long-sightedness) up to + 3.5 dioptres
Astigmatism

What types of laser surgery are there?:
Laser surgery has been around since the early 90’s, and several procedures have evolved which are suitable for different situations. These include PRK, Lasik and Lasek.

PRK (photorefractive keratectomy)
In this surgery, laser is applied on the surface of the cornea after removal of the most superficial layer (the epithelium). This form of laser surgery may be appropriate if the cornea is not thick enough for Lasik.
Because PRK is performed on the surface of the cornea, there is usually significant discomfort for up to 48 hours after the procedure. For this reason, we only do one eye at a time.

PRK   Although PRK is the older form of laser surgery, it may be the safest in certain conditions and the results of PRK are almost identical to Lasik 3 months after surgery.
Lasik:
With Lasik, a thin flap of cornea is created and folded back so that the laser energy can be applied deep within the cornea. After the laser is performed to reshape the cornea, the flap is then replaced.
Lasik provides a more rapid recovery than PRK, with almost no discomfort. Both eyes can be operated on the same day and visual recovery is almost immediate.
Lasik is a very safe and highly effective treatment with modern instruments and an experienced corneal surgeon.   Although Lasik has a slightly higher risk than PRK because it involves cutting a flap with the microkeratome, Lasik is a very safe and highly effective treatment with modern instruments and an experienced corneal surgeon.
Lasek:
 Lasek is a procedure somewhere between PRK and Lasik. If the cornea is too thin for a flap to be cut, the superficial layer can be rolled back (rather than removed as in PRK) and after the laser, the epithelium can be replaced over the cornea. Visual recovery is quicker and there is less discomfort than with PRK.

What will laser surgery cost?
Unlike some clinics, which advertise free assessments, we charge a fee to fully assess your eyes and provide you with the best advice, in your best interest. At times, this advice may be that you are unsuitable for laser eye surgery and the initial assessment fee covers the cost of these services. If you are suitable for laser surgery and choose to proceed, the initial cost is deducted from the surgical cost. Note that if you have a referral from your doctor or optometrist, you will receive a rebate from Medicare for part of the initial consultation fee.

Surgery fee: $2250
Neither Medicare nor health insurance companies provide any rebate for laser surgery for correction of refractive error.

  
         
Conductive Keratoplasty Surgery - A new and exciting procedure © Canterbury Eye Specialists

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