Charles Bittel III, O.D., Inc.

Charles Bittel III,O.D.,Inc. Newsletter

CRT (Corneal Refractive Therapy)

March 2013
Charles Bittel III, O.D., Inc.
Greetings!

 

Thank you to all who provided positive feedback after the re-launch of our newsletter. March's newsletter will make it 2 months in a row, a trend we hope to continue if we can keep the content interesting and engaging. To that point, please feel free to email us suggestions for future newsletters if there's a topic you would like to learn more about, and we'll try to accommodate your request. 
  
This month's newsletter is about CRT (Corneal Refractive Therapy), otherwise known as Orthokeratology or Ortho-K. CRT is an "outside the box" way of managing myopia (nearsightedness) and low amounts of astigmatism. Dr. Charlie Bittel just got certified in fitting CRT lenses and is excited to introduce this technology to the practice. As always, we hope you enjoy and learn a little something along the way.
  

Sincerely,

 

Dr. Charlie Bittel (Junior)
Dr. Chuck Bittel (Senior)
and Staff
  
P.S. We're currently in the developmental phase of a new patient-friendly website. Look out for notification of its official launch next month!
  

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In This Issue
Featured Article
Corneal Reshaping Technology
  
CRT / Ortho-K
  
Corneal Refractive Therapy operates on the basic principle that a myopic (nearsighted) eye is too powerful, and light therefore comes to a focus in front of the retina.
 
Myopic Eye 
 
Most of the eye's refractive power comes from the cornea, so CRT is designed to decrease the power of the cornea by flattening it overnight. This is accomplished by sleeping in a rigid gas permeable (hard) contact lens that has a flat central area that will temporarily flatten the central cornea.
  
 CRT Diagram 
After the CRT lens is removed in the morning, the cornea holds its flatter, less powerful shape, throughout the day. This gives the patient clear vision during their waking hours without needing contact lenses or glasses. For low-moderate nearsighted prescriptions, the effect will last all day in most cases. For moderate to high nearsighted prescriptions, the effect may not last all day. This is why there are parameters for who is a good CRT patient, and who may not be an ideal candidate.
 
There are 2 basic categories of CRT patients. The first category is the 8-18 year old patient that is nearsighted with low amounts of astigmatism. This is the group of patients (especially in the 8-12 year old range) that really sparked my interest in CRT. There have been multiple studies that have shown that not only does CRT correct a patients vision in the short-term, but CRT patients generally have a much lower rate of myopia progression than patients that just wear glasses and contact lenses. I wouldn't go so far as to say CRT stops myopia progression in all patients, but CRT does seem to be our best chance at slowing down the nearsighted progression in children that are rapidly changing and needing prescription updates every 3-6 months.
  
The other category of CRT patients are those who, at any age, need correction for nearsightedness, but don't want to wear contact lenses or glasses during the day, and may not quite be ready to commit to LASIK. 
  
CRT is a time and financial investment, and there is a LOT of information that I can provide to those who are interested. If you have any questions about the fitting process, the cost, your or your child's eligibility,or if even if you would like to read some of the published studies related to CRT, please reply to this email and we'll get you whatever information we can.
  
 
 
NEWS

 

 ** YEAR SUPPLY SUNGLASSES PROMO **

Since the days are getting longer, the nights shorter,and the temperature warmer, we want to make sure that our contact lens patients are getting as much UV protection as possible. That is why when you purchase a year supply of contact lenses, in addition to being eligible for rebates, we will also give you $50 off non-prescription sunglasses that retail for under $250, and $100 off non-prescription sunglasses that retail $250 and up!
  
Contact Lens Rebates: Many contact lens companies are again offering rebates with the purchase of an annual supply of contact lenses (or a 6 month supply of daily disposables). This can significantly reduce the price paid per box of contacts, especially when used in conjunction with vision insurance. Purchasing contacts with a rebate is almost always cheaper than purchasing from a warehouse or distribution website. Please ask us if your contact lens manufacturer is presently offering any rebates.

 

* Shipping to your home or office is FREE when ordering a year supply of contact lenses! 
  
Medical Billing: We are still able to bill most PPO medical insurances and Medicare (without HMO supplements) for office visits related to infections, floaters, etc. Often we can see you sooner than a primary care physician and have more appropriate equipment for evaluating ocular conditions. 
 
      NEW WEBSITE ON THE WAY SOON !!!  

 

About Us

Dr. Chuck Bittel (Senior) has been practicing in Yorba Linda for over 25 years. His son, Dr. Charlie Bittel III (Junior) has been practicing in Yorba Linda for the last 7 years and joined the practice full-time in 2011.

The business has continued to grow through referrals of family and friends so we are always honored to see your loved ones and feel free to give us a Yelp if you see fit!

 

Learn more about Dr. Bittel Senior and Junior and about their practice on their website and Facebook page. 

 

For appointments call 714-779-8521 or email:

[email protected]

Charles Bittel, O.D., Inc.
20399 Yorba Linda Blvd.
Yorba Linda, California 92886

714-779-8521

drbittel.com