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7/1/2003 - Brown Laser Eye Care , among first in NC to perform CK, Conductive Keratoplasty

WILMINGTON, NC (July 2003) – Area residents who struggle to read the newspaper, a menu, computer screen, or price tags now have a new option in vision correction. CK, Conductive Keratoplasty, the first non-laser vision treatment approved by the FDA for those over 40, is being performed by Dr. Alan W. Brown and Dr. Laura L. Harris at Brown Laser Eye Care, a division of Surgical Eye Care, P.A. Many view glasses as an unwelcome sign of aging and have grown weary of the constant reach for their glasses, or “cheaters” as some call them. Most of these people had great vision until they hit 40, but began to notice the fine print increasingly fading from focus. The new CK procedure, which uses the controlled release of radio waves instead of a laser or scalpel, can bring most print back into focus and help patients become less dependent on their reading glasses. Low risk and minimally invasive, the CK procedure takes only a short time and is done in-office with just topical (eye drop) anesthesia. “CK was designed to meet the needs of the more risk-adverse Baby Boomer population,” said Dr. Brown. “Because it is performed without cutting or removing tissue, CK is a very low risk option for those over age 40 who are seeking to improve their vision,” he said. Dr. Brown and Dr. Harris are among the first physicians in North Carolina to offer the CK procedure, which helps patients who have trouble putting on their makeup, reading score cards, seeing price tags, or who routinely experience eye fatigue at the end of the day. This condition is the most common vision disorder in America, affecting more than 60 million people – a full 55 percent of adults over 40. CK is performed using a small probe, thinner than a strand of human hair, that releases radio frequency (RF) energy. The probe is applied in a circular pattern on the outer cornea to shrink small areas of corneal tissue. This circular shrinkage pattern reshapes the cornea, like the tightening of a belt, to increase the overall curvature of the cornea. The use of RF energy is one of today’s most advanced surgical techniques. In addition to its use in CK, RF technology is being used in prostate cancer therapy, back surgery, even cardiovascular procedures. Complimentary consultations available. For more information about CK, call Brown Laser Eye Care at 796-8648.