​​​​​​​Unlike LASIK which surgically removes the surface of your cornea, Corneal Reshaping Treatment (CRT) is a non-surgical, non-invasive procedure that gently reshapes your cornea to reduce your myopia while you sleep.

Corneal Reshaping Treatment (CRT) utilizes reverse geometry lenses so that you will awake with clear vision throughout the day without eyeglasses or contact lenses.

Like retainers for teeth, the CRT lenses are worn while sleeping so as to "retain" and maintain unrestricted, clear vision without daytime eyeglasses or contact lenses. The limited time required to wear the CRT lenses allows the patient to spend their waking hours eyeglass and contact lenses free.

Q. What is Corneal Reshaping (CRT)?

A. Unlike LASIK which surgically removes the surface of your cornea, Corneal Reshaping Treatment (CRT) is a non-surgical procedure that reshapes the cornea of the eye utilizing custom-designed reverse geometry contact lenses thereby reducing the dependence upon daytime visual correction.

Q. Corneal Reshaping Treatment sounds a lot like Orthokeratology. Are they the same?

A. CRT is similar to Orthokeratology or Ortho-K, but CRT offers significant improvements over the older procedure. CRT technology utilizes a Wavefront Corneal Refractive Analysis System (corneal topographer and wavefront digital refracting system) to map the topography of the cornea and digital correction of the eye much the way surgeons map the cornea prior to the surgical correction with LASIK. The Wavefront Corneal Refractive Analysis System is the most advanced instrumentation available in the world today for the evaluation of the corneal parameters that we use to design corneal reshaping lenses.

The lens materials, fitting technology as well as years of research combine to make CRT the most advanced way for patients to experience clear vision, without full-time contact lens wear, glasses, or surgery.

Q. How safe is CRT?

A. Many people have been able to eliminate their dependence on glasses and standard contacts with no adverse effects or eye damage and without the risk of surgery. As with all contact lenses, care must be taken to maintain eye health.

Q. Who can benefit from CRT?

A. CRT works best for myopia (nearsightedness) and astigmatism, but lens designs for farsightedness are also being developed. Not everyone meets the criteria for CRT. Dr. Rubinfeld will be happy to evaluate you and your prescription and let you know if you are a good candidate for CRT technology.

Q. A child's vision changes over time. Is CRT appropriate for children and teenagers?

A. Yes, Absolutely, CRT is used to retard the progression of nearsightedness and other refractive errors, and leave children and teenagers with a brighter future.

Q. Is CRT Permanent?

A. After treatment and maximum results are achieved, retainer lenses are worn to stabilize the new corneal shape. Failure to wear the retainer lens on an ongoing basis will result in the return to the pre-existing prescription. Retainers may be prescribed during the day or night.