What is CTAK?
Corneal Tissue Addition Keratoplasty (CTAK) is a surgical procedure that uses custom shaped, preserved corneal tissue to treat the structural and visual abnormalities caused by keratoconus. As you may know, keratoconus is a progressive condition that causes the cornea to thin, weaken, and bulge outward, losing its symmetrical shape. As the dome of the cornea steepens, visual distortions worsen. It goes without saying that this condition can have a severe impact on a patient’s quality of life. With that in mind, the team of doctors at CLEI Center for Keratoconus developed and pioneered the CTAK procedure, which is the most advanced keratoconus treatment available to date. The goal of CTAK is to improve a patient’s vision by reducing the irregularity of the weakened cornea. How does it work?
Before CTAK, we carefully map your eye’s topography using multiple devices. Next, software designed at CLEI uses these maps to create a surgical plan that will provide optimal tissue placement. The corneal tissue addition is also cut to specific measurements based on this surgical plan.
During the CTAK procedure, a femtosecond laser cuts the channel for the tissue addition, and surgical tools are used to put it into place.This adds thickness to the cornea and helps decrease the asymmetrical cone shape. The entire process is much less invasive than a full corneal transplant (penetrating keratoplasty). So, what can you expect post-op?
CTAK Surgery Recovery Process
Recovering from CTAK is a relatively short process, especially when compared to the recovery expectations for a full corneal transplant. Penetrating keratoplasty requires a lengthy recovery period, with patients often experiencing sensitivity to light, blurred vision, and sutures that must remain in place for at least 6 months. By contrast, most CTAK patients experience minimal discomfort and notice visual improvements in the first week after surgery. Usually, no sutures are needed.
Consider this too: A penetrating keratoplasty surgery is typically performed under local or general anesthesia, and can take several hours to complete. CTAK can be performed in the office and the only anesthesia the procedure requires is topical numbing drops, which are applied just before the procedure.
As with a full corneal transplant, you will need to attend follow up appointments after CTAK to make sure your eye is healing properly and adapting to the tissue addition, but fewer are needed. This translates to fewer disruptions to your daily life.
CTAK can certainly improve uncorrected vision, but in most cases, it is used to improve a patient’s vision with glasses or contact lenses. For this reason, you’ll need to get your glasses or contact lens prescription checked and adjusted around about one month after the procedure.
Managing Discomfort and Pain After CTAK
Just after the procedure, your surgeon will apply a corticosteroid drop to prevent inflammation. You’ll also be given antibiotics to prevent infection. Pain and discomfort after CTAK can occur, but they are generally mild.
To ease any discomfort you feel, your surgeon can provide you with specific eye drops to help reduce inflammation and alleviate discomfort. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully for best results. It’s also important to avoid strenuous activities that could increase pressure on your eye for a few days. Finally, be sure to practice good eye hygiene after the procedure. Clean your eye as directed by your surgeon and avoid touching or rubbing it.
Depending on your specific needs, your doctor may also recommend OTC pain medications. In any case, if you experience severe or persistent pain, or if your discomfort progressively worsens, contact your doctor right away for further evaluation and treatment.
Potential Risks and Side Effects of CTAK
As with any surgery, there are a few potential risks, such as infection, inflammation, or scarring. The chance of one of these things occurring is possible but rare. The corticosteroid drop you receive post-operatively and the prescribed antibiotics help to keep these risks to a minimum. At the Cornea and Laser Eye Institute we provide you with all of your necessary postoperative drops when you come in on your day of surgery.
Another rare, but potential risk is unexpected or worsened corneal shape. It is an unlikely outcome, but if it does occur, the procedure can be reversed by simply removing the corneal addition tissue. If the first CTAK procedure has an unfavorable outcome, it may be possible to reshape the tissue addition and perform CTAK a second time to achieve the desired results.
Conclusion
If you or a loved one is struggling with the effects of keratoconus, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment at the CLEI Center for Keratoconus. As professionals dedicated to advancing the treatment options for keratoconus, we are well-informed on all of the potential treatment options. Having developed CTAK personally, we have the expertise to advise you as to whether this procedure is a viable option. If it is not, we can still recommend a comprehensive treatment plan to stop the progression of the disease, improve your corneal topography, and improve your overall vision.
