Paragon CRT Inquiries Increase With Recent FDA Hearing on Lasik
MESA, ARIZONA (May 1, 2008) – Paragon Vision Sciences, the manufacturer of Paragon CRT® for overnight corneal reshaping to temporarily correct nearsightedness, commented today that inquiries have increased from doctors, consumers and distributors worldwide for its non-surgical contact lens. Paragon CRT provides similar visual benefits as LASIK so that patients can go all day long without their glasses or daytime contacts, however, it also provides other significant benefits for both children and adults in that it’s temporary and reversible. This dramatic rise in inquiries is coming quickly on the heels of a Nationwide consumer alert that the FDA convened a special meeting on Friday, April 25, to hear from LASIK surgeons, as well as disgruntled patients who say their eyesight has been irreparably damaged by the surgery.
Joe Sicari, President of Paragon Vision Sciences, commented;
“While LASIK has improved the lives of so many people, it is unfortunate that of the estimated 7.6 million Americans who have undergone some sort of laser vision correction that approximately 400,000 have experienced unacceptable outcomes. In some cases this may include permanent vision impairment. We are pleased that Paragon CRT offers a non-surgical and reversible alternative for the freedom from glasses and traditional contact lenses that consumers seek. It is my hope that the Myopia Control research, currently underway with CRT and providing very promising early results, will enable us to non-surgically halt the progression of nearsightedness. We are also observing expanding indications that CRT is emerging as an answer to dry eye discomfort among soft lens wearers since CRT lenses are not worn during functioning hours, providing maximum visual comfort. I would like to think doctors who advise patients against LASIK would consider CRT as an alternative method to vision correction.”
While LASIK is a good procedure for many people, most consumers fear eye surgery. After all, no one wants surgery. What consumers really desire is the freedom from their glasses and traditional contact lenses. In June 2002, Paragon CRT (Corneal Refractive Therapy) was FDA approved for all ages. CRT allows the consumer to wear a special contact lens ONLY DURING SLEEPING HOURS. Upon awakening, the lenses are removed, providing 20/20 vision for one to three days. No Surgery. No Day Time Contacts. No Glasses.
CRT lenses are also used by some surgeons to correct unacceptable visual outcomes following LASIK. The lenses can adjust for small over and under corrections. It is generally accepted by those surgeons that CRT is safer than additional surgery. LASIK surgeons should inform people interested in LASIK about this non-invasive and temporary alternative but, generally, do not. The reasons are varied.
An estimated 4,000 practitioners in the USA already fit CRT lenses and there are well over 200,000 very happy consumers including adults and children.
Paragon Vision Sciences has a history of innovation that spans four (4) decades with many “First” achievements in the contact lens industry including; the First to gain FDA approval for overnight corneal reshaping for myopia with and without astigmatism, the First to secure FDA approval for Plasma treatment of Paragon GP materials and the First to collaborate with NASA to conduct research on gas permeable materials aboard three space shuttle missions spanning almost 10 years. As a result, Paragon’s HDS® technology with the hyper-purified delivery system was used to launch the market leading HDS® and HDS® 100 high oxygen permeable materials that are so widely prescribed today.
Paragon Vision Sciences is a privately held, specialty vision research, development and products company, located near Phoenix in Mesa, Arizona, owned and operated by Joe Sicari, President & CEO and members of his management team. Paragon is the manufacturer of world-renowned oxygen permeable contact lens materials including Paragon HDS®, Paragon HDS® 100, Paragon Thin, FluoroPerm®, and Paraperm® family of materials for a wide range of indications.
For more information about Paragon Vision Sciences GP materials or Paragon CRT® call 1-800.528.8279 or visit our website at www.paragoncrt.com.