Myopia reduction using corneal refractive therapy contact lenses.

PURPOSE: The Paragon corneal refractive therapy (CRT) lens provides a temporary reduction in myopia by molding the cornea while sleeping. This study presents our initial experience in 20 patients fit with the CRT lens. METHODS: Myopic patients with a spherical correction between -1.00 and -7.75 diopters (D) and astigmatism less than 1.62 D were fit and followed for an average of 5.1 months. RESULTS: Patients whose initial refraction was between -1.00 and -3.00 D achieved an average of 1.50 D myopic correction; those between -3.25 and -6.00 achieved an average of 2.9 D myopic correction; and those greater than -6.00 D averaged 5.8 D of correction. Uncorrected visual acuity improved an average of 7.7 lines. One hundred percent achieved 20/40 or better vision, and 55% achieved 20/20 vision. Fifty-five percent were within 0.50 D of plano, and 84% were within 1.00 D of plano. There was an overall 80% success rate. CONCLUSIONS: The CRT lens is an effective modality for temporary myopic correction for a restricted subset of myopic candidates. Those with a spherical manifest refraction between -1.00 and -6.00 D and up to 1.50 D of astigmatism can expect a good outcome with these lenses.