Corneal Refractive Therapy

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How corneal refractive therapy works

The GPmolds for corneal refractive therapy are applied at bedtime and worn overnight. While you sleep, the lenses gently reshape the front surface of your eye (the cornea) to correct your vision, so you can see clearly without glasses or contact lenses when you're awake. The effect is temporary - generally enough to get you through a day or two - so you must wear the reshaping lenses each night to maintain good vision during the day.

Currently, there are three brands of corneal refractive therapy (Ortho-Keratology) approved by the FDA: Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT) from Paragon Vision Sciences, Vision Shaping Treatment (VST) from Bausch & Lomb, and WAVE Custom CRT Lenses.

Who is a candidate for corneal refractive therapy?

CRT is frequently a good option for nearsighted individuals who are too young for LASIK surgery or for some other reason are not good candidates for vision correction surgery. Because it can be discontinued at any time without permanent change to the eye, people of any age can try the procedure, as long as their eyes are healthy.

Corneal molding treatment is particularly appealing for people who participate in sports, or who work in dusty, dirty environments that can make contact lens wear difficult.

What results can you expect from corneal reshaping?

The goal for is to correct your vision to 20/20 without eyeglasses or contact lenses during the day. In FDA trials of both CRT and VST lenses, more than 65% of patients were able to achieve 20/20 visual acuity after wearing the reshaping lenses overnight. More than 90% were able to see 20/40 or better (the legal vision requirement for driving without glasses in most states).

Success rates for corneal refractive therapy tend to be higher for mild prescriptions. Call our office to find out if your prescription is within the range that can be successfully treated with this procedure.

How long does CRT take?

Though you will see improvement in your vision after a single day of overnight CRT, it can take two weeks for the full effect to be apparent. During this time, your vision may not be as clear as it was with glasses or contacts, and you may notice some glare and halos around lights. It's possible you may need a temporary pair of eyeglasses for certain tasks, like driving at night, until your vision is fully corrected by the CRT lenses.

Is CRT comfortable?

Some people have comfort issues when attempting to wear gas permeable contact lenses during the day. But since these special GP molds are worn during sleep, comfort and lens awareness are generally not a problem.

Cost of Corneal Refractive Therapy

CRT is a significantly longer process than a regular contact lens fitting. It requires a series of office visits and potentially multiple pairs of lenses. Also, the custom molds are more costly than regular contact lenses. Therefore, fees for CRT are higher than fees for regular contact lens fittings.

Can I have LASIK after CRT?

Yes, it's possible to have LASIK surgery after CRT. But, similar to other gas-permeable contact lens wearing options, you must stop wearing the CRT lenses for several months before any refractive surgery is anticipated to ensure that your eyes have stabilized and returned to their original shape.