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1.
What is Paragon CRT®?
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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.
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2.
How new is Paragon CRT?
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Contact
lens corneal reshaping is not a new concept. Previous corneal
reshaping designs were only as successful as technology
allowed. Paragon Vision Sciences has taken the recent advancements
in computerized corneal mapping, computerized manufacturing,
and oxygen permeable contact lens materials and produced
a therapeutic contact lens design that is like no other.
This has allowed Paragon CRT to become the one corneal reshaping
modality that truly stands out and the first to earn FDA
approval for nighttime Corneal Refractive Therapy.
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3.
Is Corneal Refractive Therapy Permanent?
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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.
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4
.Can everyone wear Paragon CRT?
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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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5.
How long does it take to reach good vision?
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Most
patients have rapid improvement in the first few days of
treatment and achieve nearly their optimum vision in 10
to 14 days.
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6.
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?
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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.
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7.
Are there any risks involved with wearing Paragon CRT?
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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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8.
Can I see with my Paragon CRT lenses in?
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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.
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9.
How often will I have to replace my Paragon CRT lenses?
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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.
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10.
How do I care for my Paragon CRT lenses?
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Your
lenses should be chemically disinfected after every use
(not heat). Your eye care practitioner will instruct you
about which care system is best for you.
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11.
How much does Corneal Refractive Therapy with Paragon CRT
cost?
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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.
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12.
Is Corneal Refractive Therapy painful?
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The
therapy is not painful. Initially, you may have a slight
awareness of the therapeutic lens. You will not feel the
lenses when you sleep and there is no sense of physical
corneal change…. just visual improvement when the lenses
are removed.
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13.
Is Corneal Refractive Therapy or Paragon CRT FDA approved?
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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.
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14.
Are there age restrictions for Corneal Refractive Therapy
with Paragon CRT?
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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 that 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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15.
Are the Paragon CRT lenses difficult to insert or remove?
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These
lenses are generally no more difficult to insert or remove
than any other similar contact lens. You may want to instill
comfort or rewetting drops prior to insertion of the lenses
and immediately upon waking. The lenses must move freely
prior to removal. If you have difficulty removing the Paragon
CRT lens, there are lens removal aids available to assist
this process.
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16.
If I discontinue CRT, will my vision to return to normal?
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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.
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17.
My driver’s license is marked that I need corrective lenses
to operate a motor vehicle. What do I do about that?
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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.
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18.
What happens if I lose or damage a lens?
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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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19.
Do benefit programs cover Corneal Refractive Therapy?
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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.
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20.
I suffer from “dry” eyes, am I a candidate for Corneal Refractive
Therapy?
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Dr.
Wintrob will determine if you are a CRT candidate. Many
patients with slightly 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.
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21.
I used to wear contact lenses, but stopped due to discomfort.
Am I a candidate for Corneal Refractive Therapy?
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Paragon
CRT lenses are worn at night while you are sleeping. This
greatly reduces any discomfort normally experienced while
wearing contact lenses during the day.
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22.
I have astigmatism. Am I a candidate for Corneal Refractive
Therapy?
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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.
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23.
I wear glasses. Am I a candidate for Corneal Refractive
Therapy?
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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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