OP Eye Doctor Takes Part In Post-Lasik Trial

Millions of Americans who have undergone Lasik surgery face a return to eyeglasses or contacts as their near vision -- like everyone else's -- begins to diminish with age. But Dr. Daniel Durrie is working on an alternative.

Refractec Inc. of Irvine, Calif., has chosen Durrie Vision of Overland Park and four other opthalmic practices across the country to conduct expanded clinical trials for a procedure called Post-Lasik NearVision CK.

CK (conductive keratoplasty) is a radio-wave treatment that already has received Food and Drug Administration approval for treatment of presbyopia, or age-related loss of near vision, and hyperopia, or farsightedness.

Now, Refractec is trying to determine whether the three-minute procedure should be used on people who have had Lasik.

A preliminary study presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology in October revealed no safety problems and satisfactory outcomes, said Durrie, lead investigator for that study.

"The first 42 Lasik patients participating in the clinical trial had a very enthusiastic response to NearVision CK, with 81 percent reporting being satisfied or very satisfied with their post-operative vision," Durrie said in a written release. "We are continuing to see positive results with patients enrolled in the study, and hope to complete enrollment this winter."

According to Durrie, preliminary study participants were asked to describe what they were able to see without glasses before and after NearVision CK. The majority reported that their ability to see objects such as street signs at a distance remained unchanged. However, Durrie said the procedure made the following differences in tasks involving near vision:

* Following the procedure, 95 percent of patients were able to read a computer screen, compared with 67 percent prior to the NearVision CK treatment
* Twenty-nine percent of patients were able to read menus or golf scorecards without glasses, but more than 86 percent were able to after NearVision CK.

During the expanded trials, about 150 more patients older than 45 who have had Lasik vision correction are expected to receive CK.

Using a probe thinner than a strand of human hair, CK applies radio waves in a circular pattern on the outer cornea to shrink small areas of collagen. This shrinkage creates a constrictive band, increasing the overall curvature of the cornea to bring near vision back for Baby Boomers.

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