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October 31, 2003 For years, doctors have been trying to reshape our eyes for better vision using lasers like Lasik and PRK. Now there's a new non-surgical procedure that uses contact lenses. Dr. Dean Edell reports. Renee is back for a checkup of her unique new contact lens. They're called CRTs or Corneal Refractive Therapy lenses. They are specially designed to change the shape of her eyes while she sleeps. Terri Mark, O.D., optometrist: "By wearing a contact lens, the curvature of the contact lens will actually reshape or gently remold the curvature of the cornea." The lenses are a unique type of rigid gas permeable lens, which took Renee a little getting used to, but the vision correction was almost immediate. Renee Miller, patient: "I went to bed and I woke up the next morning and I could, I removed the lenses, cleaned them, put them in the case and I could see a lot better than without my lenses." Terri Mark, O.D.: "By the next day patients can see at least 20-40 if not better by the next day. And as the patient wears the lenses for more subsequent days, their vision will just improve with time." John Corzine, O.D., UC Berkeley Optometrist: "They center well and by having a flat lens that centers well, you can get a lot of treatment in a short amount of time." Professor John Corzine of the U.C. Berkeley School of Optometry uses CRT lenses and says they can work well for the right patient. John Corzine, O.D: Basically low to medium nearsigntedness with not too much astigmatism in lay persons terms. One plus - the correction is supposed to last all day. Renee Miller: When I remove my lenses in the morning, I can go about 18-19 hours of full vision." And unlike Lasik or other eye surgery, this reshaping procedure is reversible. Terri Mark: "In CRT, it is a temporary procedure." John Corzine, O.D: "If you don't like the results, you stop wearing the lenses, you're back to normal - you don't have that permanence that laser surgery has." Renee Miller: "I love them because I have the convenience, I have the comfort of just popping them in my eye before I go to bed. And my vision is great." Reshaping your eyes with contact lenses is not new. What seems to be new is computerized corneal mapping and high tech materials used in fitting the lenses. So far they're only FDA approved for mild to moderate nearsightedness. And if you stop wearing the lenses the correction disappears. Experts say, the lenses don't seem to cause any corneal problems as long as they're cleaned daily. But they will need to be replaced about once a year. |