Conductive keratoplasty: a radiofrequency-based technique for the correction of hyperopia.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the data on the safety, effectiveness, and stability of conductive keratoplasty (CK), a thermal, radiofrequency-based technique for treating 0.75 to 3.00 diopters (D) of spherical hyperopia.

METHODS: A prospective, consecutive series, multicenter clinical trial involving 400 hyperopic eyes was conducted by 19 surgeons at 12 centers. The treatment goal was emmetropia. Cohort follow-up was up to 2 years.

RESULTS: At 12 months postoperatively, data were available for 97.5% (354/363) of eyes for efficacy variables and 98% (391/400) of eyes for safety variables. A total of 54% of the CK eyes showed 20/20 or better uncorrected visual acuity, and 92% showed 20/40 or better at 12 months. The mean postoperative manifest refractive spherical equivalent was within 0.50 D in 61% and within 1.00 D in 88%. After CK, eyes were approximately 0.50 D myopic at month 1 and effectively emmetropic at 6 months. At 24 months, there was a 20% loss of initial effect. Safety results showed a 2-line loss of best-corrected visual acuity in 2% of the CK-treated eyes. The incidence of induced cylinder of 2.00 D or greater was below 1%.

CONCLUSION: The CK technique corrects low to moderate hyperopia effectively and safely and with acceptable stability. It spares the visual axis, does not require the creation of a large flap, and is not associated with postoperative dry eye. CK has value as an alternative to hyperopic LASIK for patients with hyperopia.