Newly advertised therapy for refraction errors...

Sometime ago, I read a brochure at my wife's OD's office that some new
type of contact lenses which you wear while you are sleeping overnight
helps to re-shape your cornea (? - not sure if it said this) and during
day time you are free from wearing any type of lenses, but you have to
wear these lenses every night before going to sleep, if not, as the
brochure said, you old refraction error starts to come back in a few
days. It was advertised at about $900. My wife is at about -4.5 myopic
astigmatism, I was wondering if you know anything about this new therapy
and if it is suggestible ? What is it called and where can I find some
more info?

Thanks.

 

Ok I found this,

http://www.paragoncrt.com/

This was it, I am still interested in opinions.

 

At that prescription, your wife would be at the very upper end of the
possible treatment range. Whether or not it would work for her would
depend on her corneal shape and eccentricity. The generally accepted
mechanism is a redistribution of epithelium from the center of the
cornea to the periphery to make the surface less convex. This
redistribution is not thought to be permanent, and there is generally
some amount of intentional over-correction in the morning.

DrG

 

Thank you for replying, how common is this new treatment and at what
price range does it run? Does it have any side effects in the long run?

Thanks again.

 

I have no handle on how many patients have been treated world-wide.
The price ranges vary from $900 up to $1500. The visual side-effects
are similar to LASIK, but the effects tend to be fully reversible.
It's like LASIK. As a doctor, you either jump in with both feet and
market the heck out of it, or you don't do it.

DrG

 

My last question if you don't mind, are you using it on your patients?
Due to my interest I have immediately checked if it is being used by the
military since it sounds a very painless easy therapy and brings vision
back to normal for a few days, however never heard this in the military,
since I found out that the regulation says;

AR 40–501 • 30 September 2002

2-12 (2) c. Cornea: Laser surgery or appliance utilized to reconfigure
the cornea is also disqualifying. Full- or part-time use of contact
lenses, including a history of orthokeratologic procedures to correct
refractive error. Selected aircrew may be authorized to use contact
lenses during flying duties with a waiver.

Now I know why I never heard of it in the military, thanks for your time
this evening.

 

Anybody know what ever happened to ISTA's version (Keratoplasty) whereby
the treatment combining RGP and hyaluronidase was a permanent re-molding
of the cornea? It looked SO promising in phase 1 and 2 trials (worked
up to 4.5D, possibly to 6) and then it seems to have disappeared from
the literature, the company's website and shareholder prospectus.

Of course, if it really did work, it would take a big, big dent out of
the contact lens industry and would surely contribute to the death of
LASIK.

--LB, O.D.