Paragon CRT® Contact Lenses

Since its FDA approval for overnight wear in June 2002, over a million people enjoy their Paragon CRT® Contact Lenses. This therapeutic contact lens gently reshapes the cornea while you sleep to temporarily correct nearsightedness up to -6.00 diopters, and mild amounts of astigmatism.

Research indicates there is a genetic component with nearsightedness. However, researchers in Australia found that myopia is most prevalent in societies where children watch TV, play computer games or read instead of playing outside in natural light.1 Today’s children, and even adults, spend significantly less time outdoors where natural light is up to ten times greater than indoor light – even on a cloudy day. Exposure to natural light causes our bodies to produce a chemical called dopamine known to prevent the eyeball from lengthening which prevents light from focusing directly onto the retina.

Your child may be a candidate for Paragon CRT® Contact Lenses giving them clearer vision during the day without glasses, daytime contact lenses or surgery. With Paragon CRT® Contact Lenses, parents no longer have to worry about their child seeing the board at school clearly, not wearing their glasses, losing or breaking their daytime contacts, glasses or having blurry vision during their favorite after-school activity.

Nearsightedness is often first diagnosed between early school years through the teens. The main symptom is blurred vision when looking at distant objects, which is caused by a natural change in the shape of the eye. You might squint or frown when trying to see distant objects clearly. You may have trouble clearly seeing images or words on a blackboard, movie screen, or television. This can lead to poor school, athletic, or work performance. Many factors contribute to the speed with which nearsightedness may develop, but it often worsens rapidly during childhood and adolescence.

If your child complains about not being able to see the board in school, they may be experiencing symptoms of nearsightedness (myopia). If you are concerned, you should contact your eye care professional to schedule an eye exam for an exact diagnosis soon. If diagnosed as nearsighted, Paragon CRT® Contact Lenses is an option that may work for your child.  

Orthokeratology, or ortho-k, is particularly appealing for people with dry eyes who participate in sports or work in dusty, dirty environments that can make contact lens wear difficult. Because this treatment can be discontinued at any time without permanent change to the eye, people of any age can try the procedure, as long as their eyes are healthy. It takes only 2-3 weeks of non-wear for the eyes to return to their original shape.

Millions of contact lens wearers are frustrated with discomfort, fluctuating vision or experience tired and dry eyes. Contact lens wearers are particularly susceptible to the development of dry eye, with 50-75% of wearers reporting dry eye symptoms.  Ultimately, they begin their search for vision alternatives to daytime contact lenses.

Paragon CRT® Contact Lenses eliminate dryness and discomfort associated with daytime contacts because Paragon CRT® Contact Lenses are worn at night while you sleep, and removed before you start your day. Since the lenses are worn only while sleeping, you have freedom and comfort when it matters most – during the day!

Those considering a LASIK surgical procedure are also looking for freedom from the hassles and discomfort of contact lenses and glasses. Similar to LASIK, Paragon CRT® Contact Lenses reshape the front surface of the cornea to provide device-free vision during your waking hours. LASIK may require follow-up surgeries to obtain the desired vision correction, while Paragon CRT® Contact Lenses, on the other hand, are a non-invasive and non-surgical alternative to LASIK.

Monovision is when one eye is corrected with a lens to sharpen your distance vision and the other eye is corrected with another lens to sharpen your near vision. However, when both eyes are open while wearing the lenses, the results is typically clear vision at all distances. Though monovision might sound difficult to adjust to, most people adapt very well and eventually don’t notice which eye is their “distance eye” and which is their “near eye.” For many people, monovision with Paragon CRT® Contact Lenses are an acceptable vision alternative.

Dr. Gong is a certified Paragon CRT Contact Lens Eye Care Professional and is ready to discuss Orthokeratology as an alternative treatment to eye surgery and/or daytime wearing of contact lenses.

Nearsightedness is caused by changes to the shape of the eye — specifically elongation or lengthening. This impairs the eye’s ability to properly focus light that is being projected on the back of the eye, called the retina.

Genetics

Children whose parents are nearsighted or have a family history of myopia will have a higher risk of developing nearsightedness.

Lifestyle

The second variable, and one that is thought by some researchers to play a tremendously powerful role, is lifestyle. The thought is that staring at any object, like cell phones, books, or tablets too long can cause the eye to lengthen, which can lead to nearsightedness.

Common symptoms include:

• Persistent squinting
• Headaches due to eyestrain
• The need to sit closer to the television, movie screen, or the front of the classroom
• Holding books very close while reading
• Not noticing distant objects
• Blinking or rubbing eyes excessively

Paragon CRT® Contact Lenses belong to a treatment option category called “Orthokeratology” (Ortho-K). CRT lenses are worn overnight and gently correct the curvature of the cornea while sleeping. In the morning, when the lenses are removed patients experience crisp, clear vision with freedom from daytime contacts or glasses.

Paragon CRT® can have a positive impact on quality of life, especially for children. Imagine your child being able to see with their natural eyesight during the day. Say goodbye to glasses, sports goggles, and daytime contacts! Lenses like Paragon CRT® have been clinically proven to improve a child’s:

• Self-esteem
• Performance in sports
• Their willingness to try new things
• Success in school
• Social skills

For many patients, nearsightedness can become progressively worse over time. This is can be dangerous, especially when nearsightedness is diagnosed in childhood, as it can lead to potentially-blinding future vision complications later in life including:

• Retinal Detachment
• Myopic Macular Degeneration
• Glaucoma
• Premature Cataracts

In fact today, myopia is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in Tajimi, Japan and in Shanghai, China.

This is why it is so important to visit your eye doctor annually and to treat you or your child’s nearsightedness with the treatment option that works best for you and your family!

There are no age restrictions for CRT. They can be worn by children and adults. Is CRT safe? Yes. In fact, Paragon CRT® contacts were the first FDA approved Ortho-K lenses for extended overnight wear.

When it comes to patient satisfaction, the results of a recent study show that 97% of Paragon CRT® wearers report that their experience either meets or exceeds expectations.

Ask your eyecare professional, if you’re interested in discovering if you or your child are a candidate for Paragon CRT®.

While there are other CRT-like lenses in the market, Paragon CRT® is the only brand trusted by patients in over 50 countries worldwide.7Don’t settle for less. When meeting with your eye care professional, make sure you request Paragon CRT® by name.