Nearsightedness—the inability to see clearly at a distance—is on the rise. It affects 1 in 3 Americans, and researchers have confirmed that this number is even higher elsewhere.1 In fact, the prevalence of nearsightedness has increased a whopping 66% in the U.S. since 1971.2 And Americans aren’t alone. At present, nearsightedness effects one-quarter of the world’s population.1
But here’s the good news - there is an innovative way to treat nearsightedness without the use of glasses or daytime contact lenses!
Ortho-K, or Orthokeratology, is changing the game for people with nearsightedness. Through the use of specialty contact lenses, Ortho-K helps people see their world without glasses or daytime contacts! Here are three reasons why Ortho-K lenses might be right for you:
1. See What You’ve Been Missing
Has your nearsightedness slowed you down or gotten in the way of your day-to-day-activities? Maybe you can relate to that hesitant feeling while driving, unsure if you are accurately reading the street signs. Or perhaps you are among the many nearsighted people that report feelings of anxiety while driving on an unfamiliar road after dark.
For people with nearsightedness, the issues aren’t just confined to just driving. Maybe you are learning how to surf on a family vacation and can’t concentrate from worry over losing a contact lens in the water. Or you love dirt biking but are frequently frustrated by glasses fogging up or dust kicking up into your contacts.
With Ortho-K lenses, you can surf, bike, hike, workout, live life FREE of any visual distractions or hindrance. These special contacts offer a real answer to the frustrations of nearsightedness, and a way to move through life on your terms—free of anything that slows you down!
2. Clear Sight, Overnight
So, how do they work? Ortho-K is an advanced technology that treats nearsightedness through the use of specialty contact lenses. This process is also known as Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT). It corrects the shape of the cornea, so it refracts light properly and allows the patient to see faraway objects clearly after wearing the lenses.3 Upon awakening, patients remove the lenses and experience clear vision throughout the day. Paragon CRT® was the first FDA-approved overnight corneal reshaping lens,4 and 97% of wearers have reported that Paragon CRT® meet or exceed their expectations.5
3. Freedom to Live the Way You Want To
Can you imagine how it would feel to wake up and go about the day without giving a second thought to your eyesight? Millions of people wish for this kind of freedom as nearsightedness is becoming increasingly common.1 Thankfully, Ortho-K lenses like Paragon CRT® offer true freedom to see the world, your way. No more keeping track of glasses or worrying about losing a contact lens.
The possibilities are endless—from camping trips to swimming and socializing—Ortho-K patients report increased self-esteem and quality of life.6,7 If you are interested in Paragon CRT® for you or your family, you can find a Paragon CRT® certified eye doctor here! Paragon CRT® gives you clear vision for your lifestyle!
[1] Holden, B. A., T. R. Fricke, D. A. Wilson, M. Jong, K. S. Naidoo, P. Sankaridurg, T. Y. Wong, T. J. Naduvilath and S. Resnikoff (2016). "Global Prevalence of Myopia and High Myopia and Temporal Trends from 2000 through 2050." Ophthalmology 123(5): 1036-1042.
[2] Vitale S, Sperduto RD, Ferris FL 3rd. Increased Prevalence of Myopia in the U.S. between 1971-1972 and 1999-2004. Arch Ophthalmol. 2009 Dec; 127(12): 1632-9. PubMed
[3] Mukamal, R. (2018, October 24). What Is Orthokeratology? Retrieved from https://www.aao.org/eye-health/glasses-contacts/what-is-orthokeratology.
[4] FDA Approval Letter
[5] Paragon Vision Sciences, Consumer Survey, Data on File, July 2019
[6] Dias, L., Manny,R.E., Hyman, L., &Fern, K. (2002). The Relationship between Self-Esteem of Myopic Children and Ocular and Demographic Characteristics. Optometry and Vision Science, 79(11)
[7] McAlinden, Colm, and Lipson, Michael. Orthokeratology and Contact Lens Quality of Life Questionnaire (OCL-QoL). Eye & Contact Lens. 2017; 0: 1-7.