Melanie Irons daughter, Imogen started wearing glasses around 6 or 7 years old. “She would watch television very closely to where she’d block everyone else’s view. In school she would struggle to read the board.” Says Mrs. Irons. The Irons have been invested in treating Imogen’s nearsightedness with Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT) for 4 years. Read about their story and how Paragon CRT® has changed this family’s life!
Meet the Irons
Imogen started Corneal Refractive Therapy at age 11 with Paragon CRT® Overnight Contacts. CRT is the use of specially designed gas permeable contact lenses that you wear overnight. While you sleep the lenses gently and safely correct the curvature of the cornea. This focuses light onto the retina properly. When the lenses are removed in the morning you can see clearly without having to wear glasses or daytime contacts. This process is also called Orthokeratology (Ortho-K). Paragon CRT® Contact Lenses were the first FDA approved overnight Ortho-K lens in 2002.1
“It was easy to forget my glasses because I didn’t need to wear them all the time.” Says Imogen. Imogen had a lower prescription of nearsightedness when she first started to wear glasses.
“I kept them in my bag and would take them out to look at the whiteboard in class, so it became this constant back and forth task. They would interrupt the flow of daily life.”
The causes of nearsightedness are both genetic and environmental. Studies have shown increased urbanization and close-range activities such as reading, computer games, or phone use are increasing the incidence of nearsightedness. Nearsightedness usually begins in childhood at school age (six years and onwards). When left uncorrected, nearsightedness can affect a child’s ability to learn and develop.2
While glasses and daytime contacts are a useful treatment option for nearsightedness, glasses can easily break or be forgotten. Daytime contacts can always fall out during a sports game.
“The lenses are a very good option if you don’t want to be wearing contacts every day or take on and off glasses. They do help to make everyday activities easier. You don’t have to worry about forgetting your glasses at home because you can rely on your own vision.” Says Imogen.
The Irons discovered Paragon CRT® from Imogen’s eye doctor. Only Paragon CRT® certified eye doctors can prescribe the lenses. Not every eye care professional is certified. Because of this not everyone is aware of all the possible treatment options for nearsightedness.
“If you have a child who is faced with the decision of wearing glasses or contacts lenses. There is another option.” Says Mrs. Irons. “The freedom Paragon CRT® gives kids to be able to play
any sport is worth it. They don’t have to keep putting eye drops in all day, their glasses won’t fall off. With this option it is all about the freedom of not having anything on your face or in your eyes during the day.”
“Things around me were a lot clearer and sharper after I started wearing Paragon CRT®”
Imogen goes to school, works a part time job, plays tennis, and enjoys swimming. Much like other teenagers, 15-year-old Imogen lives a busy and on-the-go life. “Overall I’ve had a good experience. Things around me were a lot clearer and sharper after I started wearing Paragon CRT®” says Imogen.
Lenses like Paragon CRT® have been clinically proven to help children by:
- -Improving ability to learn.
- -Increasing self-confidence.
- -Enhancing social skills and self-esteem.
- -Boosting participation in sports.3
Imagine your child not having to worry about sports goggles on the football field or forget to take their contacts out before a swim meet.
“I’ve been out with other parents and children. Their children are wearing normal daytime contacts and they are doing an activity, then you hear, ‘oh no I’ve lost my contact.’ They have to look around on the floor or have to spend time searching for a spare contact. With glasses there is always the risk of breaking them. It is great not having to worry about putting a pair of glasses on or putting in contacts in the morning to be able to see. You can just wake up, take the contacts out, and go! Especially for young people it is a good alternative.” Says Mrs. Irons.
Many parents including Mrs. Irons enjoy the ability to manage the treatment in the home with Ortho-K lenses. With Paragon CRT® a patient’s vision will start to improve after just one night of wear, depending on their prescription full correction can take 7 to 14 days.4 Many patients see improvement to their vision right away.
“I can remember when we would go to the store and Imogen was looking for the bathroom. I’d point and say, ‘the bathroom sign is over there’ and she couldn’t read the sign, even with her glasses on. When she had started using Paragon CRT®, the difference was amazing. She was able to see so much better. She could finally see distant objects like the restroom sign in a store.” Shares Mrs. Irons.
Envision Your Child’s Future
If you are interested in finding out if your child is a candidate for Paragon CRT® Contact Lenses, you will need to find a certified eye doctor. With overnight vision correction you can give your child a competitive edge in sports, give them an advantage in school, and overall improve their quality of life.
“Having grown up wearing glasses myself, I’m glad she can be free of them. When I was young, I hated having to wear glasses. She has freedom and can go right into the swimming pool without having to worry about removing her daytime contacts. I love the fact that she can have perfect sight during the day.” Says Mrs. Irons.
Your child deserves the best treatment possible! Paragon CRT® Contacts have a high 97% satisfaction rating and are prescribed in over 50 countries.5,6 Ask your eye doctor about Ortho-K lenses or contact a Paragon CRT® certified eye doctor today! Your child’s story can be like Imogen’s.
[1] FDA Approval Letter
[2] Holden, B. A., Fricke T. R., Wilson D. A., Jong M., Naidoo K. S., Sankaridurg P., Wong T. Y., Naduvilath T. J. and Resnikoff S. Global Prevalence of Myopia and High Myopia and Temporal Trends from 2000 through 2050. Ophthalmology 2016; 123: 1036-1042.
[3] F. Z., G. Z., & Z. Z. (2018). Investigation of the Effect of Orthokeratology Lenses on Quality of Life and Behaviors of Children. Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists, Inc., 44(5). Retrieved May 8, 2019.
[4] FDA Clinical Study, 2002
[5] Paragon Vision Sciences, Consumer Survey, Data on File, July 2019
[6] Accounting Letter from internal CRT System