Laser Thermokeratoplasty (LTK) Procedure

In LTK surgery, a laser is used to shrink and reshape the cornea. The procedure is very fast and there is no cutting or removal of eye tissue. To prevent infection or any irritation that may occur, antibiotic drops are given, and anti-inflammatory drops are taken for up to one week after the surgery. The procedure involves heating a series of small, dot-shaped areas of the cornea. The cornea then expands and the curvature of the cornea becomes steeper, hence its shape changes. This change in shape enables light to pass through the eye in the correct manner and vision becomes clearer.

In LTK surgery, eyes are often overcorrected in order to compensate for regression of vision, which occurs mostly during the first three months following surgery. Thus, you will experience temporary nearsightedness immediately following the procedure because of the over-correction of vision. You may even need to wear glasses for a few weeks following LTK. From the end of the first week to three months following surgery, fluctuations of vision will occur. After three months, some further regression is experienced, however you may not notice this. If you experience a great deal of regression, re-treatment may be an option. Long-term results show that people often lose about half of the corrective effects of the procedure within two years of the surgery.

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