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Benefits
of Corneal Refractive Therapy |
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The
basic purpose of Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT) is to improve visual
function. In people of all ages with increasingly stronger prescriptions, corneal refractive therapy
can slow down or stop the ever-increasing need to get stronger glasses. Not
everyone can presently benefit by this procedure. Yet,
for many, this is a safe, non-surgical approach to improving
and restoring vision. The doctors at Arizona's Vision will
evaluate your eyes and your vision to determine whether you are a good
candidate for corneal refractive therapy.
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Corneal Refractive Therapy Program |
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 On the first day of your
procedure you should arrive at the office as rested and relaxed as possible. Expect this visit to last approximately
one hour.
The new contact lenses will be placed on your eyes by your doctor or an
assistant. You will have an adaptation period of 10 to 20 minutes.
During this time, you will feel a slight awareness of the lens on the lid
and eye, much like an eyelash. Your eyes may tear in response.
You will be instructed in the proper method of lens insertion and removal
and the hygiene associated with cleaning the lenses. You will be given
all the solution and instructions necessary to handle this at home.
During this instruction, you will need to demonstrate proficiency with
insertion, removal, and centering of your lenses.
The doctor will then discuss your lens-wearing schedule with you. To
ensure the best possible results, it is essential that the wearing schedule
be followed closely. Your exact wearing schedule depends on the
severity of your myopia and your lens-wearing success. During night
wear, the eyelid covers the lens, resulting in very little lens
movement. The lenses are highly oxygen-permeable, so the cornea
will not be deprived of oxygen even when the lenses are worn while sleeping.
After the initial session of contact fitting, you will be scheduled for an
appointment two days later. This is a very important visit
since the cornea and resulting vision are rapidly improving at this stage.
This exam will include determining unaided visual acuity, corneal curvature, and corneal topography. The objective
and subjective refraction determines your new vision correction, and
biomicroscopy evaluates the health of the eye. A refitting of new
accelerated contact lenses as necessary or possible contact lens
modifications may take place. The doctor will discuss the new wearing
schedule.
Follow-up appointments are usually scheduled for two-weeks, one-month, and
six-months, but can vary from doctor to doctor. When your doctor determines that your maximum desired results have been
achieved, a retainer lens program will be arranged with yearly follow-up
exam. The wearing schedule of retainer lenses will range from wearing
them
every night to wearing them only one night per week.
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Topographical map of right eye,
before CRT treatment
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Corneal topography following CRT treatment
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Expected Results
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Results vary from
person to person, so it is not always possible to predict your exact
response to this therapy. Myopia, or nearsightedness of mild or
moderate degrees (20/200 or better), usually can be corrected to 20/20-20/30.
Higher degrees of myopia may gain dramatic improvement, allowing that person
to function without lenses. Astigmatism of moderate amounts can also be
reduced or eliminated, enhancing visual performance. With today's advanced
computerized lens design and manufacturing equipment, better and faster results
are obtained. The contact lens materials have also made technological
advances, allowing better
safety and retention.
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Rare
Risks and Complications |
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Your eyesight changes slightly over time, even if you do nothing to enhance
your vision. This does not mean this procedure is unstable. Many
outside factors affect vision progression, like age, eye growth in children
and close work, as well as other factors. However, in most patients, vision does
not change
significantly with proper retainer lens wear.
Eye infections are extremely rare with the program of reshaping the cornea.
As with all contact lens wear, infections are avoided through proper hygiene
and proper lens wear along with careful monitoring by your doctor. If
infection does occur, it is important to contact your doctor so treatment
can begin immediately. Most infections respond to antibiotics,
but it will be necessary to discontinue your Gentle Molding lens wear while
an infection is active.
It is important that your doctor be aware of any dry-eye problems you have
prior to beginning the procedure. Tell you doctor if you experience
dry, scratchy symptoms or if you frequently use "drops" to lubricate your
eyes to receive relief from dry-eye problems. With
aggressive treatment, many people with slight to moderate dry-eye problems
can be successful, safe wearers of contact lenses.
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Links to
Further Reading
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Paragon
CRT® Corneal Refractive Therapy from
www.paragoncrt.com
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www.gentlemolding.com
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