What to Expect:   The procedure

After your doctor has applied anesthetic eye drops, controlled RF energy is applied in a circular pattern to heat and shrink the corneal tissue. This pattern is along the periphery of your cornea, which spares your visual axis (i.e, pupil) and therefore may help minimize some of the side effects associated with other refractive procedures. Once finished, you don't have to wear a patch and can usually return to work or normal activities the next day. Vision generally begins improving in about a week's time.

As with other vision procedures, the level of improved vision may be temporary due to the natural aging process. While CK can turn back the clock on your vision, it cannot stop the clock entirely.