Have you ever had the need or desire to see clearly without using contact lenses or glasses? Corneal refractive therapy is a revolutionary non-surgical process that will allow you to see without using contact lenses or eyeglasses. It is similar to braces because the therapeutic lenses move a part of the body to a different position.

How Does It Work?

Corneal refractive therapy uses specific therapeutic lenses. These lenses act like vision retainers and gently reshape your cornea as you sleep. They float on the eye’s tear film and use the hydraulic pressure to reshape the cornea. With time, the lens accommodates the cornea without discomfort. The epithelial cells move from the center to the periphery, flattening the surface and correcting the refractive error.

The reshaping eliminates the need to use glasses or contact lenses to see clearly during the day. You can see with the lenses on, but their design is to help your vision when you are not wearing them.

How Long Does It Take to Reach Optimal Vision?

Most patients have rapid improvement within the first few days of treatment. They achieve their optimal vision within 10 days to two weeks. However, do not use your old contact lenses or eyeglasses during this time. The doctor may prescribe temporary soft lenses in different prescriptions during this time.

How Long Does the Overnight Vision Correction Last?

You will notice that you have clear vision every morning when you remove your therapeutic lenses. You will also not see any visual changes if you consistently wear them every night.

Some patients need to wear their lenses every night, while others only wear them every other night. Due to this, there is a variation in the time the overnight vision correction lasts. Some people will have improved vision for 24 hours, while others last up to 72 hours.

After How Long Do You Change Lenses?

You will need to replace your therapeutic lenses every two to three years. However, it depends on how well you take care of them and the amount of protein buildup. If you are not careful with your lenses, you may need to replace them more often than is necessary.

What Happens if You Stop Wearing Them?

The same thing happens to your teeth when you stop wearing your retainer. The cornea slowly regains its earlier shape. You will also gradually notice vision changes. You will get back to your original prescription. The process may take a week or two, depending on how much the lenses take to mold your eyes. After that, you can return to wearing glasses or use your regular contact lenses.

Is the Process Painful?

You will feel slight discomfort when you are wearing your therapeutic lenses. However, you will not have any pain and discomfort when you decide to reverse the process. You will only notice changes in your vision.

Before starting corneal refractive therapy, you must understand that it is not permanent. Hence, you need to decide if you will commit to it. Take care of your lenses and be consistent in wearing them.

For more information on corneal refractive therapy, call Insight Eyecare at (702) 718-7163 to reach our office in Las Vegas, Nevada.