Hurtis Nall started having trouble seeing when he was a teen. His vision got progressively worse over the years. But today, after more than 20 years of depending on glasses and contact lenses, to correct his nearsightedness, he doesn't need them anymore.
"It's a whole different world," Nall says.
Nall had been considering surgery when he heard about a non-surgical, less expensive way to correct his vision.
"I was introduced to this new kind of contact lens, where you wear it at night and once you get up in the morning you take it out, and I have 20-20 vision, and it's great," Nall says.
Ophthalmologist Dr. Edgar Dapremont started offering the lenses shortly after they were approved by the FDA.
"It really does amaze me how well it works, because I would not have been a proponent. I was not really 100 percent sure that it would work as well as it has," Dapremont says.
How they work is pretty basic. The lenses reshape the eye to help the patient see better the next day.
"Most gas permeable contacts fit the eye perfectly. These are designed to fit the eye a little tighter than normal, so over a period of time it causes the surface of the eye to gently migrate away from the periphery, causing the edges of the cornea to become flatter," Dapremont says.
Patients have to wear the lenses every night, and the results are temporary.
"If they stop wearing them, the eye will return to its normal shape. But it's a viable option for patients who don't want to have the surgery," Dapremont says.
It's an option Nall is glad he had. Losing his dependency on glasses has helped him at home and work.
"It's great. You can respond to an object and pinpoint your work a lot easier and a lot faster. It makes you feel more confident, being able to see," Nall says.
These lenses are to help people who are nearsighted. It unfortunately won't help people who need reading glasses. Talk to your doctor to find out if you're a candidate, and click here to find out more about this new technology.
By: Karen Abernathy
The makeup of bacteria in your dog's digestive tract may be more like your own than you think, researchers say.
More >>The makeup of bacteria in your dog's digestive tract may be more like your own than you think, researchers say.
More >>New research sheds light on why some people's blood pressure is especially sensitive to salt.
More >>New research sheds light on why some people's blood pressure is especially sensitive to salt.
More >>Women are more likely than men to suffer a knee injury called an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. But -- surprisingly -- the injury occurs the same way in both genders, a new study reveals.
More >>Women are more likely than men to suffer a knee injury called an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. But -- surprisingly -- the injury occurs the same way in both genders, a new study reveals.
More >>Americans may be trying to eat healthy, but they're throwing away mountains of produce in the process, a new study suggests.
More >>Americans may be trying to eat healthy, but they're throwing away mountains of produce in the process, a new study suggests.
More >>Wanda Sihanath didn't like the fact that her inherited blood disorder would not allow her to travel far from Chicago to attend college, but what could she do?
More >>Wanda Sihanath didn't like the fact that her inherited blood disorder would not allow her to travel far from Chicago to attend college, but what could she do?
More >>If you've ever had a mild concussion, your risk of developing Parkinson's disease goes up by 56 percent, a new study of more than 300,000 U.S. veterans suggests.
More >>If you've ever had a mild concussion, your risk of developing Parkinson's disease goes up by 56 percent, a new study of more than 300,000 U.S. veterans suggests.
More >>New research sheds light on why some people's blood pressure is especially sensitive to salt.
More >>New research sheds light on why some people's blood pressure is especially sensitive to salt.
More >>Women are more likely than men to suffer a knee injury called an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. But -- surprisingly -- the injury occurs the same way in both genders, a new study reveals.
More >>Women are more likely than men to suffer a knee injury called an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. But -- surprisingly -- the injury occurs the same way in both genders, a new study reveals.
More >>Poor muscle health may be a complication of type 1 diabetes, even in young people who get plenty of exercise.
More >>Poor muscle health may be a complication of type 1 diabetes, even in young people who get plenty of exercise.
More >>Americans may be trying to eat healthy, but they're throwing away mountains of produce in the process, a new study suggests.
More >>Americans may be trying to eat healthy, but they're throwing away mountains of produce in the process, a new study suggests.
More >>