What to Expect Before, During, & After CRT


The basic purpose of FDA Approved corneal refractive therapy is to improve visual function.  For many, this is a safe, non-surgical approach or alternative to improving and restoring vision.

 

On the first day of your procedure you should arrive at the office as rested and relaxed as possible. Don't wear make-up for your initial fitting. It may interfere with the cleanliness of the procedure. Expect this visit to last approximately one hour.

The new contact lenses will be placed on your eyes. You will have an adaptation period of 10 to 20 minutes. During this time, you will feel a slight awareness of the lens on the lid. You will be instructed in the proper method of lens insertion and removal and the hygiene associated with the lenses. You will be given all the solution and instructions necessary to handle this at home.

We will train you until you have demonstrated proficiency with insertion, removal, and centering of your lenses. We will then discuss your lens-wearing schedule with you. To ensure the best possible results, it is essential that the wearing schedule be followed closely. Your exact wearing schedule depends on the severity of your myopia and your lens-wearing success.

During night wear, the eyelid covers the lens. This results in very little lens movement. You likely will have very little feeling of the lenses the first night. The lenses are highly oxygen-permeable, so the cornea will not be deprived of oxygen even when the lenses are worn while sleeping. After the initial session of contact fitting, you will be scheduled for an appointment one to two days later. This is a very important visit since the cornea and resulting vision are rapidly improving at this stage.

A follow-up exam will include an exam while wearing the lens, which includes an evaluation of the lens fit and visual acuity, and an exam with the lens removed. This includes measuring unaided visual acuity, corneal curvature measurements with keratometry, and corneal topography. The objective and subjective refraction determines your new vision correction, and biomicroscopy evaluates the health of the eye. A refitting of new accelerated contact lenses as necessary or possible contact lens modifications may take place.

Follow-up appointments are usually scheduled for two-weeks, one-month, and six-months, but can vary depending on your unique requirements. When it is determined that your maximum desired results have been achieved, a retainer lens program will be arranged. Retainer lens exams will be performed every year. Retainer lens wearing will range from every night to wearing the lenses only one night per week.