FDA approves a technique to help aging eyes read better
By Alice Dembner, Globe Staff, 3/30/2004
One more symptom of aging fell to science last week when the federal government approved surgery for the loss of close-up vision that strikes people over 40.
The three-minute procedure, called conductive keratoplasty, or CK, uses radiowaves to reshape one eye and enable it to focus clearly on nearby objects. The Food and Drug Administration found CK safe and reasonably effective, allowing CK to join face lifts, hip replacements and botox shots in the anti-aging arsenal.
But don't throw away the reading glasses yet. The results gradually wear off and doctors expect many patients will need retreatment in three to five years. In addition, most patients will still need glasses when reading long manuscripts or fine print. And for people who are also nearsighted or have longstanding far-sightedness, other surgeries, such as LASIK, that use lasers to cut and reshape the eye, may be more appropriate.http://www.boston.com/news/globe/health_science/articles/2004/03/30/is_the_type_getting_smaller_or_are_you_getting_older/
By Alice Dembner, Globe Staff, 3/30/2004
One more symptom of aging fell to science last week when the federal government approved surgery for the loss of close-up vision that strikes people over 40.
The three-minute procedure, called conductive keratoplasty, or CK, uses radiowaves to reshape one eye and enable it to focus clearly on nearby objects. The Food and Drug Administration found CK safe and reasonably effective, allowing CK to join face lifts, hip replacements and botox shots in the anti-aging arsenal.
But don't throw away the reading glasses yet. The results gradually wear off and doctors expect many patients will need retreatment in three to five years. In addition, most patients will still need glasses when reading long manuscripts or fine print. And for people who are also nearsighted or have longstanding far-sightedness, other surgeries, such as LASIK, that use lasers to cut and reshape the eye, may be more appropriate.http://www.boston.com/news/globe/health_science/articles/2004/03/30/is_the_type_getting_smaller_or_are_you_getting_older/