CRT

If you're tired of wearing contact lenses or glasses, or are afraid of lasik surgery, CRT may be the holistic alternative you've been looking for.

Corneal Refractive Therapy is a non-surgical process clinically developed to reshape the cornea while you sleep. The result is the temporary correction of myopia with or without moderate astigmatism. In short, you can see during the day without glasses or contact lenses because your eyes are undergoing painless, re-shaping therapy at night.

This leading-edge technology can enhance the lifestyle of those requiring vision correction. Active individuals can freely participate in sports without the interference of glasses or bother of contacts. Eye irritation or dryness, sometimes associated with contact lens wear due to outside dust and pollutants, is eliminated.

Frequently Asked Questions about CRT

ANSWERS

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. Can everyone wear Paragon CRT?
Not everyone can wear Paragon CRT. This lens is designed for individuals with low to moderate myopia (nearsightedness up to and sometimes over –6.00 diopters) with or without astigmatism (up to –1.75 diopters). Paragon CRT therapeutic lenses are not yet available in bifocal prescriptions for presbyopia (which requires reading glasses or bifocals). However, since there are variations in patient physiology and visual needs, the decision for CRT, at any age, can only be made after a thorough eye exam and the recommendations of the eye care professional. At this time, hyperopia (farsightedness) is not correctable with CRT.

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4. 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.

5. What do I do to see adequately in the period of time between when I start Corneal Refractive Therapy with Paragon CRT and when I achieve full treatment?
It’s important to understand that for a time after you have begun treatment, but before sufficient treatment is realized, your old glasses or contacts will no longer be the appropriate prescription. It may involve insertion of your Paragon CRT lenses for part of the day or some use of temporary soft lenses in different prescriptions as an option. Your eye care practitioner will discuss your options for visual correction during that transitional period of time.

6. 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.

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7. How much does Corneal Refractive Therapy with Paragon CRT cost?
The cost for your initial fitting, professional care, follow-up and Paragon CRT therapeutic lenses varies. After your first year, the annual cost of CRT is about the same as wearing contact lenses or glasses. Dr. Wintrob also offers optional payment plans, which he will be happy to review with you.

8. Is Corneal Refractive Therapy or Paragon CRT 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. 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.

9. Are there age restrictions for Corneal Refractive Therapy with Paragon CRT?
No. The FDA placed no age restrictions on candidates for Corneal Refractive Therapy with Paragon CRT. CRT is being successfully performed on children 12 years old and younger. It can be a great option for children and teens who are active in sports activities or any other extra curricular activities.

Those who are older and presbyopic (requiring reading glasses or bifocals) may still be candidates for CRT. They may correct their distance vision with CRT and wear near-vision reading glasses for close work. At the doctor’s discretion you may be fitted in a monovision mode (one eye corrected for near vision and one corrected for distance vision).

Visual requirements due to age or activities can only be assessed after a thorough eye exam. Your Paragon CRT certified eye care professional will recommend what is best for you.

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10. If I discontinue CRT, will my vision to return to normal?
There are no recorded permanent corneal changes post-treatment. Generally, the more myopia being reduced, the longer it will take for the corneal curvature to return to normal. For instance, if your pretreated correction was - 4.50D, it would take a few days longer to return to normal than if the pretreated correction was -1.50D.

11. My driver’s license is marked that I need corrective lenses to operate a motor vehicle. What do I do about that?
Dr. Wintrob 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.

12. What happens if I lose or damage a lens?
Corneal Refractive Therapy is different than wearing regular contact lenses. If you discontinue wear for one night, your vision may be impaired the next day. Previously worn glasses or contact lenses may not help. Immediate replacement is necessary! Having a spare pair of lenses is strongly recommended.

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13. Do benefit programs cover Corneal Refractive Therapy?
This is an elective procedure, and to the best of our knowledge is not usually covered by benefit programs. If regular contact lenses are covered under your vision care plan, Corneal Refractive Therapy may be partially covered. You should check with your benefits plan administrator.

14. I have astigmatism. Am I a candidate for Corneal Refractive Therapy?
Paragon CRT is designed to correct myopia with to 1.75 diopters of astigmatism. Dr. Wintrob will evaluate you to determine if CRT is right for your visual requirements.

15. I wear glasses. Am I a candidate for Corneal Refractive Therapy?
The transition from wearing only glasses to Paragon CRT should not be a concern. About 18% of the patients in the FDA study were non-contact lens wearers. The dropout rate related to discomfort was only 3.9%.

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