GVSS Is Very Safe For Children

Our office has used the Gentle Vision Shaping System (GVSS) to safely and effectively improve daytime vision in hundreds of children. Children place their GVSS retainer lenses in at night before they sleep and remove them upon awakening. After a few weeks of wearing their GVSS lenses, they obtain clear vision throughout the day. The retainer lenses must be inserted nightly to maintain clarity.

The number one concern parents have is safety. Paragon, the manufacturer of our GVSS lenses, obtained FDA approved for all ages, there is no age restriction. We’ve been successfully fitting children, as young of 5 years of age, for years.

As some children grow their eyesight may deteriorate; there is nothing more disheartening to parents than seeing their children’s prescription get worse year after year. We've found that nearsightedness does not progress as rapidly in children who wear GVSS lenses. In fact 75% of our GVSS patients are children!

Dr. Despotidis’ Children: Nicholas & Gregory

Dr. D’s (Dr. Despotidis) children became nearsighted at a very early age, even though he and his wife, did not wear eyeglasses until much later in life. "Although I understood this was not uncommon, it was disconcerting" Dr. D often says. Consequently, Dr. D. fit both of his sons in 1999 and they have worn GVSS lenses ever since.

“Their vision and subsequently prescription has not changed since they started wearing GVSS retainer lenses nightly.”. This fact is the number one reason Dr. Despotidis has developed a passion for this technique and has focused his entire practice on helping other children through this process.

Gentle Vision Shaping System (GVSS): Not New

Gentle Vision Shaping System (GVSS) is the term we use within our office for a technique generically referred to as Orthokeratology or Ortho-K. More recently, Paragon Vision Sciences, the maker of our GVSS lenses, refers to their method as Corneal Refractive Therapy. All of the terms refer to the use of a rigid lens to gently and safely reshape the front surface of the eye (cornea) to improve vision after the retainer lens is removed.

Reshaping the cornea with contact lenses to improve vision isn't new; some eye doctors have practiced it for decades. However, before FDA approval for overnight wear, the procedure had limited appeal. Now with safe, more oxygen permeable materials, the process has grown in effectiveness, safety and popularity.