Orthokeratology

What is orthokeratology?

This is a non-surgical procedure that eliminates the need for glasses or daytime contact lens wear.  It improves vision by gently reshaping your cornea while you sleep, using specially designed rigid contact lenses.  The lenses are inserted at bedtime and removed on waking, giving lens free clear vision for your waking hours.  This safe and effective treatment can correct a range of refractive errors including near-sightedness, far-sightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia.  It is a great alternative to laser eye surgery and is completely reversible.
Recent studies have found that wearing an orthokeratology lens can help to reduce the progression of shortsightedness in myopic children
 

How does it work?

When a person needs to wear glasses or contact lenses to help them see clearly, it is because their eyes do not focus light accurately onto the retina.  This produces blurred or distorted vision.
Ortho-K contact lenses reshape the cornea by manipulating the tear film beneath the lens, creating gentle forces which reshape the front surface of the cornea.
To create the correct contact lens design, the surface curvature of the cornea is mapped using a topographer.  This information along with the spectacle prescription is then used to create a customised lens design.
 

How long does it take?

It can take from one to four weeks to achieve the full vision correction.  However, some people achieve this much quicker, depending on their initial prescription.  As your cornea is being resculpted, your optometrist may fit you with temporary soft contact lenses for daytime wear to maintain clear vision, until the treatment is fully effective.  Ortho-K lenses need to be worn every night otherwise the cornea will revert to its normal shape.
 

Is it safe?

Ortho-K is a very safe and is a fully reversible procedure.  However, as with any contact lens wear, there is a slight risk of infection. It is important to maintaining careful cleaning and disinfecting of the lense and having regular progress visits with your optometrist to reduce this risk.  

Can I wear Orhtokeratology lenses?

If you are interested in wearing orhtokeratology lenses contact your optometrist to organise an eye examination and discuss if this lens type could work for you.

For more information on the costs involved click here