What are thermal techniques for treating vision problems?
Thermal techniques (radio frequency thermokeratoplasty, diode laser thermokeratoplasty, holmium-YAG thermokeratoplasty) have been used to treat low degrees of hyperopia and astigmatism in people over the age of 40. The effects depend on age. The maximum correction that can be expected in a 40 year old is about 1.5 dioptres, rising to about three dioptres for a seventy-five year old. The main disadvantages with all thermal techniques is that they are relatively inaccurate, the eyes can take a year or more to reach reasonable stability, and there may be a tendency for the effects to continue to wear off with time.
