UK debut for radio wave procedure
The first conductive keratoplasty (CK) procedures to be performed in
the UK took place last week at the Horizon Laser Eye Centre in
Manchester. They were carried out by the centre's Medical Director,
ophthalmic surgeon, David Allamby, who was trained by experts in the US.
CK is a procedure for the correction of hyperopia, which utilises the
controlled release of radiofrequency energy, instead of a laser or
scalpel, to reshape the cornea. The minimally invasive procedure, which
was approved by the FDA in the States last April, takes less than three
minutes and is performed in the ophthalmic practice with only topical
anaesthesia. The technique was developed by ophthalmic devices company,
Refractec, using its Viewpoint CK System. The growing availability of
the procedure is expected to have a significant impact on the 'baby
boomer' generation.
Mr Allamby commented, "Although there are about 150 centres
offering CK in the US, I am delighted that Horizon is the first centre
to make this breakthrough procedure available in the UK. Finally we have
a procedure specifically for those millions of longsighted people over
40, including those who only need reading glasses."
The treatment, which costs around £1,000 per eye, will soon be
available in London as well as Manchester.
