FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT

CORNEAL REFRACTIVE THERAPY

EXACTLY WHAT IS CORNEAL REFRACTIVE THERAPY?

For patients with Myopia (i.e. nearsightedness) it's the ability to reshape the cornea while you sleep, using custom designed contact lenses that provides most patients with a FULL DAY of clear vision without the use of eyeglasses or daytime contacts.

IS THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY?

No, the wearing of contact lenses for "myopia reduction" (the reduction of nearsightedness) has been known since the early 1940s. Early orthokeratoloy designs, for reshaping the cornea, were produced in the 1960s made from PMMA materials. However, it took the marriage of two new technologies and improved materials to make repeatable, precision, contact lenses possible.

SO WHAT ARE THESE NEW INNOVATIONS?

Essentially three things have changed;

1. New instrumentation is available that is capable of "digitally mapping" the surface curvature of the cornea with extreme accuracy.

2. New "computer-controlled digital lathes" are capable of manufacturing lenses to sub-micron levels of accuracy ... with repeatable precision.

3. There are now new and improved gas permeable materials with higher "Dk" ratings which are essential for good eye health; it provides a greater degree of oxygen permeability.

UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS FOR NEARSIGHTEDNESS (MYOPIA) AND/OR MILD ASTIGMATISM?

Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT) attempts to reshape the eye with precisely designed contacts that are worn during the night (while you are asleep) and removed upon awaking to provide clear vision during the daytime hours. No surgery is involved. Yes, you are still utilizing contact lenses (at nighttime) but you are not confronted with the daytime problems associated with wearing contact lenses like "dry eyes", dust or dirt getting under the lenses and chemicals penetrating the lenses. Not having to wear eyeglasses or daytime contact lenses during aggressive sports activity is a definite asset.

HOW LONG ARE MY EYES GOING TO MAINTAIN CLEAR VISION?

Ideally speaking, the goal is to remove the custom retainer lenses in the morning and have clear vision for at least a full day (or possibly longer) without wearing eyeglasses or daytime contacts.

Since not all patients are "physically identical", as you might expect not all experiences are identical.

Some patients experience clear vision "for the entire day" after the very first night of using these custom retainer lenses. However, with continued daily nighttime use they are routinely able to achieve the goal of a full day of clear vision.

Ultimately, most patients achieve the goal of "a full day of clear vision" within a relatively short period of time.

WHO ARE THE PEOPLE THAT BENEFIT THE MOST FROM CORNEAL REFRACTIVE THERAPY?

Among the obvious beneficiaries are;

a) People working in dusty or dirty environments

(no more dirt particles getting on the eyeglasses or

under daytime contact lenses)

b) People working in air conditioned or dry environments;

no more "dry eyes" or constant blinking

c) People involved in active sports activities.

No more accidents while wearing glasses or contacts. No more loss

of contact lenses or the absorption of pool chemicals through

daytime contact lenses while swimming.

d) Parents have the opportunity to slow down or stabilize

the degradation of progressive myopia in children.

e) No surgery is involved. People are fearful of permanent changes to their eyes when choosing LASIK surgery.

f) Patients are comforted knowing that the process of wearing

corneal reshaping lenses is reversible. Within a few days your eyes will relax and return to their previous shape which means that you can go back to your eyeglasses or daytime contacts any time you choose.

WHAT KIND OF RESULTS SHOULD I EXPECT?

Unfortunately, there is no single answer to this question. Since no two people have identical eye conditions; naturally one should expect the results to be varied. Some patients have reported that they are able to see with "clear vision" for periods of one workday, (and in some cases as much as three days) before re-inserting the corneal reshaping lenses.

Other patients "start out" by experiencing shorter periods of normal vision during the daytime hours. However, these same patients also report that within several days of repeated insertion and removal of the custom lenses they are eventually able to achieve a full day of clear, normal vision.