The Real Solution to Your Nearsightedness: Corneal Refractive Therapy

Close up of a blue eye

Nearsightedness is one of the most common eye conditions. It affects many people and their ability to go about their everyday lives. While wearing glasses is the traditional treatment for nearsightedness, other treatment options exist, such as corneal refractive therapy. It’s important to understand how this therapy can improve your vision.

The Impact of Nearsightedness

Nearsightedness is the inability of a person to see objects unless they are close to their eyes. In other words, they cannot see things at a distance. The person’s eye can’t bend light correctly so they can’t focus clearly on objects farther away. This condition is extremely common, and it can tamper with many activities. 

When a person is nearsighted, they may bump into things or fall over objects. They will find it difficult to read unless the words are close to their eyes. They may suffer headaches and other symptoms from eye strain.

The most common solution to this condition is to wear glasses. The corrective lenses help the eye to focus on objects farther away so the person can see clearly. Some people may only wear glasses when doing certain tasks, while others need to wear them all the time. 

How Corneal Refractive Therapy Helps

The cause of nearsightedness comes from the length or size of the cornea. Corneal refractive therapy is a treatment for nearsightedness that temporarily changes the size of the cornea so you can see clearly without glasses or other treatments, such as laser surgery.

Corneal refractive therapy or CRT is also called corneal reshaping therapy. It temporarily reduces nearsightedness through special contact lenses which the person wears at night while they sleep.

CRT works by reshaping the front eye surface while the patient sleeps. The next day, they have good vision without the need for glasses or contact lenses. The patient must wear the CRT lenses every night to maintain the results. 

The Benefits of CRT

CRT is safe for adults and children who suffer from nearsightedness. However, good hygiene is critical to prevent irritation and infection. While CRT doesn’t prevent nearsightedness from getting worse or cure it, the treatment does allow the person to see better without the need for glasses. 

Another benefit of CRT is it is less invasive than surgery. While laser surgery and other surgical procedures can provide permanent results for nearsightedness, they often come with risks. If you aren’t prepared for those risks, you may find CRT is a safer alternative. 

If you find that CRT is a treatment that doesn’t work for you,  all you have to do is stop wearing the corrective lenses. Your eyesight will return to what it was before treatment and you can wear glasses or contact lenses for the condition. 

The cost of CRT is also fairly affordable at around $1500 for both eyes. This cost includes the initial visit, progress visits, training on using the lenses and the first pair of special lenses. 

If you have trouble with nearsightedness and would like to see without the aid of glasses or contact lenses and surgery isn’t an option, you may want to consider corneal refractive therapy. CRT can help you enjoy clear vision and a more fulfilling life.