What Is Conductive Keratoplasty (CK)?

If you’re struggling with farsightedness or feel you need reading glasses to perform at your best, it may be time to consider conductive keratoplasty (CK).

Conductive keratoplasty is a type of refractive eye surgery that can reduce the need for reading glasses in middle‑aged and older adults by correcting mild degrees of hyperopia.

Hyperopia is also known as farsightedness. As this condition develops, you may still see distant objects clearly, but focusing on things up close becomes increasingly difficult.

Conductive Keratoplasty Treatment

What is conductive keratoplasty?

Conductive keratoplasty uses radiofrequency (RF) energy to reshape the cornea, restoring your ability to focus on near objects. No corneal tissue is removed, and the procedure itself only takes a few minutes.

Most experienced surgeons apply low‑level RF energy to the cornea in a circular pattern. As the treatment is delivered, it causes the corneal collagen (the connective tissue in the cornea) to shrink wherever the probe passes.

This tightening effect makes the cornea slightly steeper, changing the way it bends light. As a result, near objects come back into clear focus.

So what is the procedure like?

One of the best aspects of this treatment is how quick and straightforward it is. It only takes a few minutes to perform, yet the results can be life‑changing. Before we begin, we place numbing drops in your eyes so you don’t feel pain or significant discomfort.

We then use a handheld device with a very fine probe—thinner than a human hair—to deliver radiofrequency energy precisely where it’s needed.

Once the procedure is over, most people can return to work and their normal daily activities the very next day.

If your job demands extremely sharp vision—such as performing surgery, doing certain dental procedures, or highly detailed computer work—you may need to give your eyes a few extra days to recover before going back.

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Expected Results

For most people, the results are almost immediate. In other cases, it can take a few weeks for your eyes to fully adapt.

This depends on how farsighted you were to begin with and how your eyes respond to the treatment. In general, the younger you are, the faster your eyes tend to adjust—but everyone is different.

Am I a Candidate for Conductive Keratoplasty?

Am I a candidate for conductive keratoplasty?

To be a good candidate for this procedure, you should be able to answer “yes” to several key questions:

– Has your eyeglass prescription been stable for at least one year?  

– Are you over 45 years of age?  

– Are you willing to accept a slight reduction in distance clarity in exchange for excellent near vision?  

– Have you always had good distance vision but now need reading glasses?

There are also certain situations where conductive keratoplasty may not be the right option for you.

If you have severe dry eye disease, this is not the ideal procedure. In that case, it’s better to wait until your dry eye is properly treated and under control before undergoing CK.

In addition, the radiofrequency energy used in this treatment is not compatible with pacemakers. If you have a pacemaker, talk with us about alternative treatment options that may help you.

You also cannot undergo this procedure if you have:

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At Batal Center, we are committed to giving every patient the time, attention, and professional care needed to achieve the best vision possible. Whatever your condition, we are happy to talk with you and help you decide on the most appropriate way to reach the level of vision you need.

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FAQs About Conductive Keratoplasty

Is This Treatment Permanent?

Conductive keratoplasty is not a permanent solution, because your eyes continue to change as you age. You may have noticed, when looking at over‑the‑counter reading glasses in the pharmacy, that they’re labeled by “strength.”

You’ll often see +1.00 readers commonly used by people in their 40s, and +3.00 readers for those in their 60s, with various powers in between. That’s because presbyopia (age‑related difficulty focusing up close) tends to progress over time.

Even so, CK is still a long‑lasting treatment. So even if you eventually need reading glasses again, you’ll usually maintain excellent intermediate vision. You should be able to see things like your cell phone or computer screen without glasses.

The main role of conductive keratoplasty is to delay the need for reading glasses and to preserve better visual function at intermediate distances, even after reading glasses become necessary.

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Is This Treatment Safe?

Is this treatment safe?

Radiofrequency technology is among the most advanced tools available in medicine. It is widely used not only in eye procedures but also in spine surgery, cosmetic treatments, cardiovascular interventions, orthopedic surgery, and even in the treatment of prostate cancer. In other words, it is a well‑established and safe technology.

Batal Center is known for its highly specialized medical staff, so having your conductive keratoplasty with experienced RF surgeons is a safe and effective way to address your farsightedness.

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What Should I Do After Treatment?

Immediately after the treatment, it’s generally best to have someone else drive you home. By the day after your conductive keratoplasty, you can usually return to your normal routine, but you should still take steps to protect your eyes.

Avoid rubbing your eyes for a few weeks after the procedure, even if they feel itchy or irritated. Wait about one week before applying eye makeup after you leave our office.

For roughly a week, it’s best to avoid swimming, hot tubs, and any other activities where water might splash directly into your eyes.

When showering, keep your eyes closed and aim the showerhead away from your face. If you enjoy long, relaxing baths, this is a perfect time to opt for baths instead of showers.

Finally, Batal Specialty Complex in Saudi Arabia is considered one of the leading and most advanced medical centers in the field of eye care and eye disease treatment. The center’s reputation continues to grow thanks to the excellent outcomes achieved by its ophthalmologists, as well as its use of the latest diagnostic and treatment technologies.  

If you are experiencing any eye problem, schedule an appointment at Batal Specialty Complex to receive top‑quality medical advice and management from a fellowship‑trained ophthalmologist at the center.