Conductive keratoplasty for presbyopia: 3-year results

To assess the long-term safety, efficacy, and stability of conductive keratoplasty (CK) in the treatment of presbyopia.

Ten near-plano presbyopic patients (6 women and 4 men) underwent unilateral CK with standard-pressure technique in the non-dominant eye to improve their near vision. Mean age was 51+/-3.1 years (range: 46 to 56 years). Nine of the 10 patients were available for both 1- and 3-year follow-up examinations.

Preoperative mean manifest refraction spherical equivalent (MRSE) was -0.17+/-0.29 diopters (D), yielding a mean near uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) of J10. Three years after CK, the mean near UCVA was J3. The mean MRSE at 3 years was -1.06+/-0.81 D, which represents a 0.25 D change from the MRSE at 1 year. The MRSE in the dominant untreated eyes had a +0.26 D change during the 3-year period, which was not statistically different when compared to the CK-treated eyes during the 3-year postoperative period. No eye lost best spectacle-corrected visual acuity or had induced cylinder > or =0.75 D. Seventy-eight percent had binocular distance UCVA 20/20 or better and near UCVA J3 or better. The average keratometry remained stable at 45.09 D 3 years postoperatively compared to 45.08 D 1 year postoperatively.

Conductive keratoplasty for the treatment of presbyopia provided safe, effective, predictable, and stable results 3 years following the initial surgery. Refractive stability was similar for both the CK-treated and untreated eyes with a small hyperopic shift noted during the 3-year follow-up period.