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Miami Herald
May 24, 2005
By Dr. Sean Kenniff
Vision therapy has pitfalls
Q: What is corneal refractive therapy and how does it compare to laser vision correction?
A: Corneal refractive therapy, or CRT, is often touted as a nonsurgical way to improve your vision while you sleep. According to Dr. Cory Lessner, an ophthalmologist at the Millennium Laser Eye Centers in Sawgrass, the treatment isn't new but it is effective.
"We used to call it Orthokeratology, or Ortho-K," he said. "Now called CRT, it is more refined and it does have a role in treating those with mild visual deficits, unstable prescriptions or kids and teenagers who are not candidates for Lasik."
CRT uses a series of hard contact lenses to gradually reshape the cornea. The lenses are progressively flat, and when worn properly the cornea takes their shape. It may take several different CRT lenses to reach the desired correction. Once the desired correction is achieved the lenses are worn overnight and removed in the morning. In one FDA clinical trial 95 percent of patients achieved at least 20/40 vision, and 67 percent achieved 20/20 vision or better. But the cornea will slowly lose its corrected shape throughout the day and vision will deteriorate by nightfall.
"CRT is not permanent," Lessner said, "And the cost is similar to Lasik surgery. So, it isn't going to replace Lasik anytime soon."
Dr. Sean Kenniff covers health for WFOR CBS-4. The advice in this column is not a substitute for consulting a physician.
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