Paragon CRT is a specially designed oxygen permeable therapeutic contact lens used in Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT). CRT reshapes the cornea while the patient sleeps, and that resulting shape change can provide the patient with great vision throughout the day –without needing any contact lenses for daytime wear. The effects of CRT lenses is temporary, lasting only about 1-3 days, and the lenses are designed to be worn at night time while the patient is asleep. Vista Eye Care, Thornton, Brighton, Westminster, and Northglenn Colorado’s best choice for family eye care and optometry, is proud to offer CRT services to our patients.
Because the effects are not permanent, CRT lenses are ideal for patients that need great vision without daytime correction, but are still growing and having changes to their eyeglass prescription. While there are no age restrictions for CRT wear, the best candidates for successful CRT use are those that are less nearsighted than -6.00 diopters and with less than -1.75 diopters of astigmatism. Those patient unable to have refractive surgery (especially because of thin corneas) are also great potential CRT patients. CRT generally does not work with in those patients with keratoconus or those with post-surgical corneal ectasia. Children, because their eyes are still changing, tend to do quite well with CRT, and can use Paragon CRT lenses instead of glasses and daytime contact lens wear. With the dry climate of Colorado, many adults unable to tolerate contact lenses do excellent with CRT. CRT is fun and easy!
Fitting the lenses involves first taking a careful measurement of the curves of the fronts of the patient’s eyes. Using their current glasses prescription and knowing the curves of the corneas, our eye doctors will have lenses made that will flatten the corneas by the same amount of the glasses prescription. The lenses are custom made for each patient, and when they arrive at our practice, a final contact lens fit is confirmed before the patient is sent home with the CRT lenses. The lenses are worn at night, and our optometrists will see the patient back to check that they are working optimally. Sometimes, adjustments need to be made the initial lens parameters. Once a satisfactory fit and great vision is achieved, the patient continues wearing the lenses only at night while asleep. Great vision during the day is just that easy!
Dr. Brian Abert, O.D., FAAO is certified by Paragon CRT to fit CRT lenses for patients of all ages. Call Vista Eye Care today at (303) 450-2020 to schedule your child’s CRT fitting, or come in and speak with Dr. Abert about using CRT to help your vision reach its potential.