I have seen CRT mentioned on the posts but no one has written about actually using them. I have recently started, so I thought I would share my experience so far.
I wanted an alternative to surgery -- I've been using the corneal refractive therapy (CRT) lenses now for one week. I noticed an immediate change and it is amazing to be free from any type of lenses during the day. It is currently only for myopia (nearsightedness).
The doctor must be certified in fitting and dispensing them. They are rigid lenses so they feel a lot different than soft contacts -- for me the sensation is annoying but not intolerable, and becomes less annoying the longer I use them. If you have ever worn contacts, you know what it feels like to have a foreign object under the lens. It does not feel painful like that. They are inserted right before you go to sleep, so you don't feel them for that long. When I wake up, I can't feel them at all.
In 4 nights of use I went from 10/400 vision (not able to see myself in the mirror) to being able to drive. The worse your Rx, the longer it will take to correct, and longer to resolve if you stop using them. My eyes were -3.25 and -4.50. The -3.25 eye was OK for driving in 2 days, the -4.50 eye in 4.
They are more expensive than regular contacts but the freedom from glasses, contacts, or surgery is worth it to me. I had never even heard of these until a week ago and now I can see. They were approved by the FDA in 2002 (FDA reports available on their website).
So far the inconveniences have been: (1) repeated visits to the doctors office - which you would have with surgery as well. There is a visit at one day, one week, and one month (more possible); (2) I had to wear them for driving the first 3 days, which again felt annoying but not intolerable. (3) Handling the rigid gas permeable lens is different than soft contacts, which took me a few uses to get accustomed to - they bounce when dropped and are trickier to remove. They give you a suction device for removal which I found very easy to use.
You must be dedicated to using them and caring for them properly. You must use solutions for RGP lenses which are not as widely used as soft, and the supplies for them are limited in my local grocery and pharmacy. I am still looking for a store that carries the recommended solution, but I found a comparable type at my pharmacy.
Another thing is if you lose one, you will be without sight until it's replaced. You can't use your regular contacts or glasses because your vision is temporarily changed. I would think some doctors might offer some type of insurance on loss, I am going to ask my doctor at my next visit.
Overall so far I would say the CRT lenses are becoming a great investment for me.
If you do an internet search on "CRT lenses" you will find more detailed information.
I wanted an alternative to surgery -- I've been using the corneal refractive therapy (CRT) lenses now for one week. I noticed an immediate change and it is amazing to be free from any type of lenses during the day. It is currently only for myopia (nearsightedness).
The doctor must be certified in fitting and dispensing them. They are rigid lenses so they feel a lot different than soft contacts -- for me the sensation is annoying but not intolerable, and becomes less annoying the longer I use them. If you have ever worn contacts, you know what it feels like to have a foreign object under the lens. It does not feel painful like that. They are inserted right before you go to sleep, so you don't feel them for that long. When I wake up, I can't feel them at all.
In 4 nights of use I went from 10/400 vision (not able to see myself in the mirror) to being able to drive. The worse your Rx, the longer it will take to correct, and longer to resolve if you stop using them. My eyes were -3.25 and -4.50. The -3.25 eye was OK for driving in 2 days, the -4.50 eye in 4.
They are more expensive than regular contacts but the freedom from glasses, contacts, or surgery is worth it to me. I had never even heard of these until a week ago and now I can see. They were approved by the FDA in 2002 (FDA reports available on their website).
So far the inconveniences have been: (1) repeated visits to the doctors office - which you would have with surgery as well. There is a visit at one day, one week, and one month (more possible); (2) I had to wear them for driving the first 3 days, which again felt annoying but not intolerable. (3) Handling the rigid gas permeable lens is different than soft contacts, which took me a few uses to get accustomed to - they bounce when dropped and are trickier to remove. They give you a suction device for removal which I found very easy to use.
You must be dedicated to using them and caring for them properly. You must use solutions for RGP lenses which are not as widely used as soft, and the supplies for them are limited in my local grocery and pharmacy. I am still looking for a store that carries the recommended solution, but I found a comparable type at my pharmacy.
Another thing is if you lose one, you will be without sight until it's replaced. You can't use your regular contacts or glasses because your vision is temporarily changed. I would think some doctors might offer some type of insurance on loss, I am going to ask my doctor at my next visit.
Overall so far I would say the CRT lenses are becoming a great investment for me.
If you do an internet search on "CRT lenses" you will find more detailed information.
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