Answering Your Frequently Asked Questions About Corneal Refractive Therapy

It is not uncommon to hear about people undergoing surgery in order to reduce dependence on glasses and contacts, questions about corneal refractive therapy remain. Corneal refractive therapy may be an answer to your eye problems. Here are a few common questions and answers about the therapy:

How Does Corneal Refractive Therapy Work?

Corneal refractive therapy reshapes the cornea with a specific type of lens, allowing you to see without the lenses for a period of time. This therapy works great for treating issues like myopia and possibly nearsightedness in young children. It may also be used to treat astigmatism, presbyopia, and hyperopia to some degree though likely not completely. Your doctor may present you with options on a case-by-case basis.

How Long and What Are the Effects of Corneal Refractive Therapy?

Eye doctors will try to help you achieve 20/20 vision, but this is not always possible. The effects of these lenses are temporary, lasting several days depending on your treatment plan. For this reason, many people wear the lenses each night. This means that there are not many long-term effects associated with the lens therapy either. You can wear glasses or contacts again at any point in the future.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Corneal Refractive Therapy?

Your eye doctor will be the best candidate for determining if you are a good candidate for this type of treatment. In most cases, patients with mild to moderate myopia are good candidates to try the therapy. In some cases, children and teenagers are great candidates because they may be too young to try LASIK but still want to avoid glasses.

What Is the Office Visit for Corneal Refractive Therapy Like?

The office visit may begin with taking some measurements. The doctor will look at the curvature of your cornea with a topography machine. This takes just a few seconds and is totally painless as it looks into your eye. Your lenses may be fitted the same day, but your doctor may need to order them if they are not in stock. Temporary lenses can be used to reach your desired effect over time.

Is CRT Covered by Health Insurance?

If your insurance includes a vision care plan, you might not be totally covered for this type of therapy. Some plans will cover a portion of the therapy, but this is something to discuss with your doctor.

There are so many ways to improve your eyesight, even temporarily. You have more options than you may realize. Talk to your eye doctor, such as Absolute Vision Care, today to learn more about your options.


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