Today’s teens look at everything up close for hours on end--computers, TVs, video games, and cell phones are generally situated sixteen inches from their eyes. This means that more teens are developing myopia (nearsightedness) and astigmatism faster (astigmatism occurs when the cornea--the clear tissue in front of the colored part--becomes slightly oval instead of completely round).
Twenty-five percent of teens in the United States wear glasses or contact lenses, but wearing custom designed, oxygen-permeable contact lenses through the night may help. Corneal reshaping lenses, made by Paragon Visual Sciences and Bausch and Lomb are non-prescription lenses that gently reshape the vision back to its natural state overnight. The process is known as Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT). This allows teenagers good vision throughout the day without wearing glasses or contacts. Your teen must wear them each night or lose the benefit. Because the teenage eye is still in the process of changing, the reshaping lenses can help to slow down the process of myopia (nearsightedness). The cost starts at $1900 for the entire program but is not covered by health insurance.
It’s recommended that teens continue the treatment through college, at which point they can opt for corrective lenses or laser surgery. For more information, visit www.GentleVisionShaping.com.