What is CRT?

Corneal Refractive Therapy uses specially designed vision retainer lenses to gently and gradually reshape the front surface of the eye (the cornea) to eliminate or reduce nearsightedness (myopia) or astigmatism. The principle is similar to the use of a dental retainer used by an orthodontist to realign crooked teeth. The vision retainers are similar to contact lenses and are only worn at night while sleeping. They are then removed upon awakening to provide clear vision without using glasses or contact lenses. The retainers are comfortable and very easy to care for.

Why think about CRT? Why not just wear eyeglasses or contact lenses?

The main purpose of CRT is to free you from both contact lenses and eyeglasses during waking hours. While this is ideal for sports enthusiasts or those who work in dusty or dirty environments, for others, CRT offers the appeal of being free from corrective lenses during the day. CRT also offers relief from the problems sometimes associated with full time contact lens wear, like contact lens dryness and things getting on or under the lenses.

Does CRT have any advantages over Laser Surgery?

There are several. CRT is about one-third the cost of Laser Vision Correction. It does not involve any post-operative pain. Also, the hazy post-operative vision that can be associated with laser surgery does not occur with CRT. Also, prescription changes are easy to deal with using CRT. There are no strong steroids or antibiotic drugs needed with CRT as there are during the post-operative period for laser surgery. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, CRT is reversible. Laser surgery is not.

Is everyone suitable for CRT and can any doctor perform it?

The answer to both questions is no. It does not work on every patient and needs to be performed in a very exact and meticulous manner. We have received special training and have the necessary diagnostic equipment, computer software and expertise to perform CRT. The procedure works best on mild to moderate amounts of nearsightedness or astigmatism. More severe cases can have their vision improved, but will still need some vision correction. The procedure also does not work well on certain shaped corneas; there are several immeasurable factor for each patient, most notable the cornea’s rigidity. Thus the speed of CRT varies with each patient.

Generally, but not always, less nearsighted patients respond faster than more nearsighted ones. There are no age barriers for CRT. It is safe for children and adults and is an excellent alternative for children who are just first becoming nearsighted, as CRT may prevent any further nearsightedness from occurring! While success rates are very high, success cannot be guaranteed due to factors like the inability to wear the vision retainer, for physiological reasons, or other systemic health problems that may reduce wearing time.