Most Common Questions

Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions that will help you explore the vision correction process in the youngest patients. Our goal is to provide clear explanations and dispel any doubts related to this area of ​​medicine.

Discover how we can help your child enjoy better vision and a better quality of life.

What is Orthokeratology?

This is a revolutionary non-surgical procedure that eliminates the need for glasses or daytime contact lenses. It improves vision by gently reshaping your eyes WHILE YOU SLEEP using specially designed therapeutic contact lenses. You just put the specially fitted lenses in at bedtime, and when you awake, you will have clear, sharp, natural vision for your waking hours.

This safe and effective treatment can correct near-sightedness (including high prescriptions), farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia (blurred near vision). It is a great alternative to LASIK for those who don’t want the risk or are not ready for surgery.

How Does It Work?

When a person cannot see clearly, it is because their eye is too long, too short or the surface is misshaped. Images fail to reach or focus on the retina. This produces blurred or distorted vision.

In order to create a therapeutic lens, the surface of your eyes is mapped using a high tech instrument called a topographer. This allows your doctor to create a custom lens specifically designed for YOUR eyes

Who is a good Candidate ?

OrthoK treats myopia (nearsightedness), the condition where distance vision is blurred. Lens powers up to about -6.00 are generally treatable. Astigmatism, a common optical condition where vision is distorted due to uneven curvatures of the eye surfaces, is treatable in low to moderate amounts. Some doctors using specialized OrthoK lenses routinely exceed these levels for many patients with great success. However, sometimes with high astigmatism, we may only be able to achieve “good” vision rather than “terrific” vision.

Can my child have OrthoK?

Patients as young as seven to nine years old are excellent candidates and we make the decision based on their maturity, hygiene and motivation. These students are able to play, swim, participate in sports and other healthy activities without the problems of glasses or daytime contact lens wear. Perhaps the most exciting candidate for OrthoK is the young patient who has become nearsighted for the first time when there is a strong family history of nearsightedness progressing rapidly during childhood. The child whose nearsightedness has been proven to already be progressing is another excellent candidate. There is growing evidence that OrthoK can stop this progression.
http://www.orthokdoctors.com/video_who_is_candidate.html

How Long Does It Take?

It can take from one to four weeks to achieve excellent vision. However, some people achieve this in as little as one day. The speed depends in part on your initial prescription.

During the first few days of the Ortho-K process while your cornea is being resculpted, your doctor may fit you with a temporary soft contact until excellent vision is achieved.

Is It Safe?

Ortho-K is a very safe and reversible procedure. It was approved by the FDA in 2002. However, as with any contact lens wear, there is a small risk, most typically a minor infection easily addressed by antibiotic drops. This risk is greatly minimized by adopting a regime of very careful cleaning and disinfecting, by wearing the lenses as prescribed by your doctor and by maintaining the necessary progress visits.

Is Corneal Refractive Therapy FDA-approved?

Yes. CRT was the first therapeutic lens design approved by the FDA for overnight contact lens Corneal Refractive Therapy for the temporary reduction of myopia. Paragon Vision Sciences, the manufacturer of CRT, received the final written approval on June 13, 2002. The issuance of this approval is the culmination of the most extensive clinical study to date to establish the safety and efficacy of contact lens corneal reshaping in overnight use.

Is CRT Permanent?

No. It’s temporary. If you stop wearing the lenses regularly while you sleep, your vision will return to its original state in as little as 72 hours.

Can everyone wear CRT?

CRT treats nearsightedness (myopia up to -6.00 diopters) with or without minor astigmatism (up to 1.75 diopters). And because there are no age restrictions with CRT, it may be the perfect option for patients that experience discomfort while wearing daytime contact lenses. At this time, Paragon CRT ®is not approved for treatment of farsightedness.

How much does CRT cost?

Our initial cost for Corneal Refractive Therapy with depends on prescription and amount of astigmatism. It is considered to be a treatment just like wearing braces   therefore it requires multiple visits ( six planned within first year ) the price ranges between $ 2,200 and $ 3,600 depending on prescription .

We offer optional payment plans through CARE CREDIT , which we will be happy to review with you.

Are there any risks involved with wearing CRT?

There is a small risk involved when any contact lens in worn. It is not expected that the CRT lenses for contact lens Corneal Refractive Therapy will provide a risk that is greater than other contact lenses that are worn during sleep. There were no serious adverse events reported in the Paragon CRT FDA clinical study.

What is the difference between Corneal Refractive Therapy and CRT?

Corneal Refractive Therapy is the process of using a therapeutic contact lens to reduce myopia by reshaping the corneal surface while you sleep. CRT is the product used for this therapy.

Are there age restrictions for Corneal Refractive Therapy with CRT?

No. The FDA placed no age restrictions on candidates for Corneal Refractive Therapy with CRT. CRT is being successfully performed on children 7 years old and younger. It can be a great option for children and teens that are active in sports activities or any other extracurricular.
Visual requirements due to age or activities can only be made after a thorough eye exam and recommendations of a CRT certified eye care professional.

Are CRT lenses difficult to apply or remove?

No. These lenses are generally no more difficult to insert or remove than any other similar contact lens modality. You may want to instill comfort or rewetting drops prior to insertion of the lenses and immediately upon waking. The lenses must move freely prior to removal. If you have difficulty removing the CRT lens, there are lens removal aids available to assist this process.

Can I see with my CRT lenses in?

Yes. One of the great features of the CRT lens is that if you get up in the middle of the night, you will be able to see perfectly. You will enjoy great vision with your CRT lenses 24 hours a day, on or off!

How often will I have to replace my CRT lenses?

Generally speaking the  CRT lenses will have to be replaced annually. However, depending on factors such as protein buildup, how well the lenses are taken care of, etc. the lenses may have to be replaced more or less frequently.

If I Discontinue CRT, will my vision return to normal?

Yes, there are no recorded permanent corneal changes post-treatment. Generally, the more myopia being reduced, the longer it will take for the corneal curvature to return to normal. For instance, if your pretreated correction was -4.50D, it would take a few days longer to return to normal than if the pretreated correction was -1.50D.

What happens if I lose or damage a lens?

Corneal Refractive Therapy is different than wearing regular contact lenses. If you discontinue wear for one night, your vision may be impaired the next day. Previously worn glasses or contact lenses may not help. Immediate replacement is necessary! Having a spare pair of lenses is strongly recommended.

Is Corneal Refractive Therapy painful?

No. The therapy is not painful. Initially, you may have a slight awareness of the therapeutic lens. You will not feel the lenses when you sleep and there is no sense of physical corneal change. Just visual improvement when the lenses are removed.

How do I care for my CRT lenses?

Your lenses should be chemically disinfected after every use (not heat). Your doctor will instruct you about which care system is best for you.

I suffer from “dry eyes.” Am I a candidate for Corneal Refractive Therapy?

Only your eye care professional can determine if you are a CRT candidate. Many patients with slightly dry eyes do well with CRT. Since you are wearing the lenses only while sleeping, the closed eye minimizes evaporative loss of tears and may give dry-eye patients suitable vision without compromising the ocular surface.

I used to wear contact lenses, but stopped due to discomfort. Am I a candidate?

CRT lenses are worn at night while you are sleeping. This greatly reduces any discomfort normally experiences while wearing contact lenses during the day.

I have astigmatism. Am I a candidate for Corneal Refractive Therapy?

CRT is designed to correct myopia with up to 2.25 diopters of astigmatism. Each individual should be evaluated by a certified eye care professional to determine if CRT is right for your visual requirements.

My driver’s license says I need corrective lenses to operate a motor vehicle. What do I do?

You will be supplied with a document that states you are participating in a visual therapy program that eliminates the need for corrective lenses while operating a motor vehicle. The document should have an expiration date for this treatment and you should have your driver’s license updated with a new vision screening through your local DMV office to reflect this change before the expiration date.