Corneal Refractive Therapy FAQ's

What is Paragon CRT?
- Paragon CRT is a specially designed oxygen permeable therapeutic contact lens used in Corneal Refractive Therapy. Corneal Refractive Therapy is a sophisticated, non-surgical process, which reshapes the cornea while you sleep. You remove the lenses when you awake and are able to go throughout the day without any other correction.

Is Corneal Refractive Therapy Permanent?
- No. It's temporary. If you stop wearing the lenses regularly while you sleep, your vision will return to its original state in as little as 72 hours.

How long does it take to reach good vision?
- Most patients have rapid improvement in the first few days of treatment and achieve nearly their optimum vision in 10 to 14 days.

Are there any risks involved with wearing Paragon CRT?
- There is a small risk involved when any contact lens is worn. It is not expected that the Paragon CRT lenses for contact lens Corneal Refractive Therapy will provide a risk that is greater than other contact lenses. There were no serious adverse events reported in the Paragon CRT FDA clinical study.

Can I see with my Paragon CRT lenses in?
- Yes. One of the great features of the Paragon CRT lens is that if you have to get up in the middle of the night, you will be able to see where you are going. Or, if during the initial treatment phase, you find you need some form of vision correction, you can put in your Paragon CRT lenses and see clearly.

How often will I have to replace my Paragon CRT lenses?
- Generally speaking the Paragon CRT lenses will have to be replaced once a year. However, depending on factors such as protein build-up, how well the lenses are taken care of, etc., the lenses may have to be replaced more frequently.

What is the cost for Paragon CRT lenses?
- The cost of CRT lenses are less than any surgical procedure and a little more than the average person spends on yearly expenses related to contact lenses or glasses.

Is Corneal Refractive Therapy FDA approved?
- Paragon CRT is the first therapeutic lens design approved by the FDA for overnight contact lens Corneal Refractive Therapy for the temporary reduction of myopia. Paragon Vision Sciences, the manufacturer of Paragon CRT, received the final written approval on June 13, 2002. The issuance of this approval is the culmination of the most extensive clinical study to date to establish the safety and efficacy of contact lens corneal reshaping in overnight use.

Will I still need a "Visual Restriction" on my driver's license?
- We will supply you with a document that states you are participating in a visual therapy program that eliminates the need for corrective lenses during working hours. The document should have an expiration date and you should have your driver's license updated with a new vision screening through your local DMV office to reflect this change, before the expiration date.

I suffer from "Dry Eyes", Can I have CRT?
- Probably, but we can only determine this through a thorough eye exam. Many patients with dry eyes do well with CRT. Since you are wearing the lenses only while sleeping, the closed eye state minimizes evaporative loss of tears and can give dry-eye patients suitable vision without compromising the ocular surface.

A child's vision changes. Is CRT appropriate for children and teenagers?
- Yes, absolutely, CRT is used to retard the progression of nearsightedness and other refractive errors, and leave children and teenagers with a bright future.

Is CRT permanent?
- After treatment and maximum results are achieved, retainer lenses are worn to stabilize the new corneal shape. Failure to wear the retainer lens on an ongoing basis will result in the return to the pre-existing prescription. Retainers may be prescribed during day or night.